Hepatoma associated with erythrocytosis

Paraneoplastic syndromes in hepatocellular carcinoma: a review

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and a significant proportion (20-40%) of patients with HCC develop paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS). Despite this, there is a paucity of clinical evidence regarding PNS in HCC.

AREAS COVERED

A systematic search was performed to identify relevant case studies regarding PNS in HCC. Another search was conducted to identify studies that evaluated the impact of PNS on survival outcomes in HCC. Since there are currently no international guidelines for PNS in HCC, this review aims to provide comprehensive summaries and recommendations of PNS in HCC, including the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic approach, and management, so that clinicians remain guided in caring for HCC patients with PNS. In general, PNS are associated with poorer survival outcomes and negative prognostic markers of HCC.

EXPERT OPINION

The presence of PNS has a significant influence on survival rates and clinical outcomes of patients with HCC. They contribute to significant morbidity, influencing patients' quality of life and fitness for curative and palliative therapies. Therefore, it is paramount for PNS to be integrated into routine investigations after diagnosing HCC to guide further management and prognostication of the disease.

Paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignancy in Taiwan. Some patients may manifest paraneoplastic syndromes during the clinical course of the disease. In this study, the authors evaluated the clinical significance of these paraneoplastic syndromes, compared the prevalence of these syndromes between cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC, and estimated significant predictors associated with the syndromes.

METHODS

Clinical data on 1197 HCC patients, including age, gender, Child-Pugh score, survival time, laboratory data (including liver biochemistry, hepatitis markers, and serum alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]), and tumor features (including tumor size, portal vein thrombosis, and histologic pictures), were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 232 of 1197 patients (19.4%) had paraneoplastic syndromes. HCC patients with paraneoplastic syndromes had significantly higher serum AFP; higher rates of initial main portal vein thrombosis, metastasis, and bilobal tumor involvement; larger tumor volume; and shorter survival than those without these syndromes. Patients with HBV-related HCC had a significantly higher prevalence of paraneoplastic syndromes than patients with HCV-related HCC (20.1% vs. 11.2%, P = 0.005). In a stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, AFP >50,000 ng/mL and tumor volume >30% were significant predictive variables associated with the presence of paraneoplastic syndromes in HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

HCC patients with paraneoplastic syndromes usually had higher levels of serum AFP and larger tumor volumes than those without. Patients with HBV-related HCC had a significantly higher prevalence of paraneoplastic syndromes than those with HCV-related HCC.

Hematologic manifestations of malignancy

Hematologic dysfunction occurs commonly in patients with malignancy. Over half are anemic, often because of acute or chronic blood loss, marrow involvement by the malignancy, marrow suppressive effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or because of the anemia of chronic disease. Less frequently, anemia may result from red cell aplasia, folate or B12 deficiency, hemolytic processes, or hypersplenism. Occasional patients may become polycythemic because of erythropoietin-producing tumors such as renal adenocarcinomas or cerebellar hemangiomas. Elevation of the white cell count is commonly seen, especially in patients with lung cancer. Monocytosis and thrombocytosis, which may be early signs of an underlying malignancy, are also very common and occur in up to half of patients. Thrombocytopenia is commonly a result of therapy or marrow replacement; a few patients may have a syndrome resembling immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Abnormalities of coagulation are present in many patients, and may lead to superficial or deep venous thromboses, pulmonary emboli, nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis with arterial emboli, bleeding, or acute disseminated intravascular coagulation. A sound understanding of the potential hematologic complications that can result from the malignant process is essential to the clinician caring for cancer patients.

Primary hepatic tumors of childhood

A clinicopathologic review of 73 cases of primary liver tumors at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, and Children's Medical Center, Dallas, has documented important prognostic and therapeutic implications for the histologic classification of hepatoblastoma. The pure "fetal" pattern was associated with cure in every instance that surgical excision was achieved (six of six patients), whereas only two of 19 patients with "embryonal" or other undifferentiated patterns of growth survived five years. The relationship of hepatoblastoma and hepatocarcinoma in childhood to antecedent conditions is discussed in detail. The uncommon liver sarcomas are also reviewed in the light of experience at these two institutions.

Hepatic resection for malignant tumors of the liver: essentials for a unified surgical approach

A unified surgical approach to hepatic resection and a simplified terminology in the classification of hepatic resections are presented based on experience with several hundred hepatic resections using specially designed instruments.

The triad of hemochromatosis, hepatoma and erythrocytosis

The triad of hemochromatosis, hepatoma and erythrocytosis is a rare combination. Hemochromatosis is often not recognized until the patient presents with the symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma and erythrocytosis, and the development of erythrocytosis is an important clue to the under-lying hepatoma. The high serum iron concentration and the high saturation of the iron-binding protein, as well as the typical bone marrow hemosiderin pattern, are important aids in the recognition of hemochromatosis. To date, all patients with this triad have been elderly males. The clinical course is usually one of rapid deterioration and death. The seven previously reported cases have been reviewed and the relationship of the erythrocytosis to the increased production of erythropoietin is discussed.