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Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Obstruction of the common bile duct (CBD) by direct extension of tumor is occasionally found in patients with hepatic neoplasms. Tumor embolus to the CBD is very rare, however, when no primary hepatic tumor is found. The patient described herein was a 74-year-old man who presented with a new onset of jaundice, nausea, anorexia, and epigastric pain. There was a history of dark urine and clay-colored stools, but no fever. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed partial obstruction of the common hepatic duct and dilated intrahepatic bile ducts. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the upper abdomen showed no masses. Results of a mesenteric and selective hepatic arteriogram were normal. On abdominal exploration, no tumor was noted. There were no palpable stones in the gallbladder, but a firm mass was felt in the common hepatic duct. Exploration of the CBD produced light-colored debris organized into a cast of the common hepatic duct. Frozen section analysis was negative for tumor cells, but review of the permanent sections confirmed the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. When non-calculous material is found to be obstructing the CBD, even in the absence of an obvious primary hepatic tumor, tumor embolus or metastasis from a distant site must be considered and the material sent for pathological evaluation.
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PMID:Hepatocellular carcinoma embolus to the common hepatic duct with no detectable primary hepatic tumor. 806 43

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a liver disease characterized by the development of necrosis, inflammatory changes, and progressive liver fibrosis, leading to complications including cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The clinical features resemble those of other forms of acute viral hepatitis, namely, malaise, nausea, abdominal discomfort, pale stools, dark urine, and jaundice. The most frequently reported extrahepatic manifestations of HCV are lichen planus, sialadenitis, and cutaneous lesions. Sjogren's syndrome-like symptoms and lichenoid reactions have been previously reported in association with hepatitis C. This article describes a case of sicca-like syndrome and oral lichenoid reaction associated with interferon-alpha therapy for HCV infection. In this unique case, significant oral symptoms arose right after initiation of interferon-alpha treatment and resolved completely within days upon completion of treatment with interferon-alpha. Physicians and oral health care specialists should be aware of the association among HCV infection, interferon-alpha therapy, and development of possible oral signs and symptoms including lichenoid lesions and xerostomia.
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PMID:Xerostomia and lichenoid reaction in a hepatitis C patient treated with interferon-alpha: a case report. 1908 5

Although an estimated 1 million persons in the United States are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, the prevalence of hepatitis B has declined since the implementation of a national vaccination program. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted in blood and secretions. Acute infection may cause nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, jaundice, and dark urine; and clinical signs, such as hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Fewer than 5 percent of adults acutely infected with hepatitis B virus progress to chronic infection. The diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection requires the evaluation of the patient's blood for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody. The goals of treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection are to reduce inflammation of the liver and to prevent complications by suppressing viral replication. Treatment options include pegylated interferon alfa-2a administered subcutaneously or oral antiviral agents (nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors). Persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection should be monitored for disease activity with liver enzyme tests and hepatitis B virus DNA levels; considered for liver biopsy; and entered into a surveillance program for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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PMID:Hepatitis B: diagnosis and treatment. 2038 72

BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare condition which typically occurs in males between 50 and 70 years of age, and presents with symptoms related to biliary obstruction including jaundice, pruritus, and dark urine. Other common symptoms at presentation include abdominal pain, weight loss, and fever. CASE REPORT We present a case of a 67-year-old female initially presenting with chest pain at rest, found to have a lung nodule on diagnostic imaging at the time of admission. On further imaging, a 9 cm liver lesion was incidentally discovered, initially suspicious for hepatocellular carcinoma on imaging, with initial biopsy staining CK7 positive, and CK20 negative. The patient also had an elevated alpha-fetoprotein level. Biopsy results were later confirmed as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma consistent with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS This report illustrates an unusual presentation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Although rare, cholangiocarcinoma is diagnosed most frequently as an incidental finding on imaging studies. With quick work-up and successful biopsy results, patients can undergo surgical or chemo-radiation therapy earlier, potentially leading to a longer survival time.
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PMID:An Unusual Presentation of Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: When Biopsy Results Fail. 2931 91