Letter to the Editor

Pseudocirrhosis in Metastatic Esophageal Cancer

Authors: Chiharu Kobashigawa, MD, Manabu Nakamoto, MD, Akira Hokama, MD, Tetsuo Hirata, MD, Fukunori Kinjo, MD, Jiro Fujita, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


A 68-year-old man presented with epigastric pain and abdominal fullness of two months' duration. Physical examination showed hepatomegaly. Laboratory values were not significant for chronic liver diseases. Endoscopy disclosed squamous cell carcinoma of the lower esophagus. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen disclosed multiple hepatic metastases (Fig 1). The diagnosis of esophageal cancer with liver metastases was made, and he underwent chemotherapy with nedaplatin and fluorouracil. He had a response to 3 cycles of the chemotherapy, and CT scan 3 months later showed a lobular hepatic contour, segmental atrophy, and capsular retraction mimicking cirrhosis and ascites (Fig 2). However, after 3 months, he died from progressive disease.

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