Multi-detector computed tomography evaluation of synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid malignancies

Aim of the study
To review the findings of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other solid malignancies.

Material and methods
A total of 74 cases were included in this retrospective analysis, all of them confirmed with a diagnosis of synchronous HCC and other solid malignancies. They were 41 women and 33 men (mean age, 63.36 years). The whole body and triphasic abdominal CT scanning utilized 128 MDCT scanners in all 74 patients. The pathological diagnoses of all 148 malignancies were confirmed in all 74 cases.

Results
Out of 3480 patients with HCC, 74 patients (2.1%) were diagnosed with another synchronous primary solid malignancy. The pathology of all 148 cancers was verified, and each one was correctly characterized, assessed, and staged. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in all 74 patients. The most frequent extra-hepatic primary malignant sites were breast (18/74, 24.3%), followed by kidney (15/74, 20.3%), lymphoma (9/74, 12.2%), uterus (7/74, 9.5%), ovary (5/74, 6.8%), colon (5/74, 6.8%), prostate (5/74, 6.8%), urinary bladder (3/74, 4.1%), thyroid (2/74, 2.7%), gall bladder (1/74, 1.4%), stomach (1/74, 1.4%), pancreas (1/74, 1.4%), esophagus (1/74, 1.4%) and lung (1/74, 1.4%).

Conclusions
The possibility of synchronous double malignancies with HCC should always be considered during pretreatment evaluation. Using an MDCT scanner, researchers were able to assess this occurrence accurately. An increased number of such findings may lead to an improved therapeutic method for these patients.