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Portal vein tumor thrombus from colorectal cancer with no definite metastatic nodules in liver parenchyma

  • Case report of interest
  • Published:
Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery

Abstract

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common entity. In colorectal liver metastasis, microscopic tumor invasion into the intrahepatic portal vein is also usually observed, but the incidence of macroscopic tumor thrombus in the first branch and trunk of the portal vein is rare. Most reported cases of PVTT from colorectal cancer had concomitant metastatic nodules in liver parenchyma, and the PVTT was continuous with the liver nodule, like PVTT in HCC. We present a case of PVTT from colorectal cancer with no definite metastatic nodules in liver parenchyma. A 58-year old man underwent laparoscopic high anterior resection for rectosigmoid carcinoma accompanied by bulky tumor thrombus in the branch of the inferior mesenteric vein. Six months later, he received left lobectomy and left caudate resection for liver metastasis. The resected specimen demonstrated there was no metastatic nodule in liver parenchyma and that the left portal system was filled with the tumor thrombus. The patient is alive with no sign of recurrence 66 months after hepatectomy. Even if there is a macroscopic PVTT from colorectal cancer, a better prognosis may be expected when the tumor can be completely resected en-bloc by anatomic hepatectomy including PVTT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Hakodate Central General Hospital, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

    Joe Matsumoto, Tetsufumi Kojima & Etsuo Hiraguchi

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Hakodate Central General Hospital, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

    Masakazu Abe

  3. Department of General Surgery, Date Red Cross Hospital, 81 Suenaga-cho, Date, Hokkaido, 052-8511, Japan

    Joe Matsumoto

Authors
  1. Joe Matsumoto
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  2. Tetsufumi Kojima
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  3. Etsuo Hiraguchi
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  4. Masakazu Abe
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Correspondence to Joe Matsumoto.

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Matsumoto, J., Kojima, T., Hiraguchi, E. et al. Portal vein tumor thrombus from colorectal cancer with no definite metastatic nodules in liver parenchyma. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 16, 688–691 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-009-0061-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-009-0061-2

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