Malignant Histocytosis Presenting as a Fulminant Hepatic Disease

Malignant histiocytosis: report of three cases

“…Nevertheless, three days before death the patient showed a progressive intrahepatic cholestasis, with raised serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase and only slightly increased GOT and GPT enzymes. This evolution, like a fulminant hepatic disease, has been frequently observed 13 , 14 . In most cases previously described, despite liver biopsy, the diagnosis was made at autopsy.…”

Primary lymphoma of the liver

“…Lymphomas are of various types, i.e. Burkitt-type, small irregular or large cell lymphomas (52,53), and some cases, previously reported as malignant histiocytosis (52,54) would probably now be classified, as mentioned above, as large cell lymphomas. The patients present with large hepatomegaly of rapidly increasing size, severe hepatocellular insufficiency and hyperlactataemia (53).…”

“…The patients present with large hepatomegaly of rapidly increasing size, severe hepatocellular insufficiency and hyperlactataemia (53). Evolution is rapidly fatal in most cases and post-mortem examination of the liver shows massive tumoral infiltration of the sinusoids, portal areas and vascular walls (52)(53)(54). In one patient, marked liver enlargement and hyperlactataemia revealed the presence of a widespread lymphoma before the appearance of hepatocellular insufficiency; immediate chemotherapy was instituted and complete remission without hepatic complication was obtained (53).…”