Abstract

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Among liver malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and usually presented with abdominal pain. Although extrahepatic metastasis is seen in advanced stages, chest wall metastasis is extremely rare. This is a case of a 59 year old male, initially presenting with a superficial mass at the posterior thoracic area. Biopsy later revealed metastatic carcinoma from a liver primary. Computed tomography (CT) scan eventually revealed a mass at the right posterior chest wall and a nodule at the right hepatic lobe. This case report epitomizes the importance of proper and adequate biopsy and immunohistochemical staining to determine the primary site of malignancy which will ultimately determine the patient’s treatment approach and prognosis.

Keywords

thoracic mass, hepatocellular carcinoma, metastasis