Hepatocellular carcinoma differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dildar Hussain, MBBS [2] Mohamad Alkateb, MBBCh [3]

Overview

Hepatocellular carcinoma must be differentiated from other diseases that cause abdominal pain, jaundice, and weight loss, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, and pancreatitis.

Differentiating Hepatocellular Carcinoma from other Diseases

Hepatocellular carcinoma must be differentiated from the following diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Liver cirrhosis
• Liver hemangioma
• Gastric diseases: gastritis, peptic ulcer, and stomach cancer
• Gallbladder diseases: cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and gallbladder cancer
• Pancreatic diseases: pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram

Disease	Clinical manifestations													Diagnosis		Comments
	Symptoms									Signs
	Abdominal Pain	Fever	Rigors and chills	Nausea or vomiting	Jaundice	Constipation	Diarrhea	Weight loss	GI bleeding	Hypo- tension	Guarding	Rebound Tenderness	Bowel sounds	Lab Findings	Imaging
Hepatocellular carcinoma/Metastasis	RUQ	+	−	−	+	−	−	+	−	−	−	−	Normal Hyperactive if obstruction present	High levels of AFP in serum Abnormal liver function tests	US CT Liver biopsy	Other symptoms: Splenomegaly Variceal bleeding Ascites Spider nevi Asterixis
Chronic pancreatitis	Epigastric	−	−	±	±	−	+	+	−	−	−	−	N	Increased amylase / lipase Increased stool fat content Pancreatic function test	CT scan Calcification Pseudocyst Dilation of main pancreatic duct	Predisposes to pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic carcinoma	Epigastric	−	−	+	+	−	+	+	−	−	−	−	N	↑ Alkaline phosphatase ↑ serum bilirubin ↑ gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ↑ CA 19-9	MDCT with  PET/CT MRI	Skin manifestations may include: Bullous pemphigoid Cicatricial pemphigoid Migratory superficial thrombophlebitis (classic Trousseau's syndrome) Pancreatic panniculitis
Inflammatory bowel disease	Diffuse	±	−	−	±	−	+	+	+	−	−	−	Normal or hyperactive	Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA) in Ulcerative colitis Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in Crohn's disease	String sign on abdominal x-ray in Crohn's disease	Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Arthritis
Whipple's disease	Diffuse	±	−	−	±	−	+	+	−	±	−	−	N	Thrombocytopenia Hypoalbuminemia Small intestinal biopsy for Tropheryma whipplei	Endoscopy is used to confirm diagnosis. Images used to find complications Chest and joint x-ray CT MRI Echocardiography	Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Endocarditis Encephalitis Dementia Hepatosplenomegaly Arthritis Ascites
Disease	Abdominal Pain	Fever	Rigors and chills	Nausea or vomiting	Jaundice	Constipation	Diarrhea	Weight loss	GI bleeding	Hypo- tension	Guarding	Rebound Tenderness	Bowel sounds	Lab Findings	Imaging	Comments
Viral hepatitis	RUQ	+	−	+	+	−	Positive in Hep A and E	+	−	Positive in fulminant hepatitis	Positive in acute	+	N	Abnormal LFTs Viral serology	US	Hep A and E have fecal-oral route of transmission Hep B and C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact.
Liver abscess	RUQ	+	+	+	+	−	±	+	−	+	+	±	Normal or hypoactive	CBC Blood cultures Abnormal liver function tests	US CT
Cirrhosis	RUQ	−	−	−	+	−	−	+	+	+	−	−	N	Hypoalbuminemia Prolonged PT Abnormal LFTs Hyponatremia Thrombocytopenia	US Nodular, shrunken liver Ascites	Stigmata of liver disease Cruveilhier- Baumgarten murmur

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