A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Recurrence of Skeletal Muscle Metastasis to the Right Lower Leg 9 Years after Hepatectomy

Abstract

A 61-year-old man underwent right trisegmentectomy combined with diaphragmatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at age 52, and thoracoscopic left upper and lower lobe partial resection for lung metastases at age 56. At age 59, PIVKA-II was elevated, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed for diagnosis of intrahepatic recurrence, and PIVKA-II also decreased. In the next year, PIVKA-II re-elevated and a tumor of 5 cm was found in the right gastrocnemius muscle. Needle biopsy was performed for diagnosis of skeletal muscle metastasis. Extended tumor resection and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and skin graft were performed. The histopathological diagnosis was metastasis of HCC, moderately to poorly differentiated, and venous invasion was observed. The patient is alive without recurrence 16 months after the last surgery. While skeletal muscle metastasis of HCC is rare, this case shows that a favorable prognosis is possible after tumor resection.