Hemoperitoneum Secondary to Rupture of a Hepatic Metastasis from Small Cell Lung Cancer during Chemotherapy: A Case with a Literature Review

Intern Med. 2017;56(6):695-699. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.56.6828. Epub 2017 Mar 17.

Abstract

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with multiple liver metastases. Three days after initiating chemotherapy, he experienced abdominal discomfort with hypotension. Computed tomography revealed a ruptured liver metastasis and the presence of hemorrhagic ascites. Transcatheter arterial embolization to the appropriate hepatic artery in concomitant with supportive therapies successfully stabilized his condition. Unlike with hepatocellular carcinoma, the rupture of a liver metastasis and associated hemoperitoneum is very rare in patients with lung cancer. We comprehensively reviewed the literature and found 10 similar cases with this serious condition. Physicians should therefore be aware of the risk of hemoperitoneum caused by ruptured liver metastases in patients with lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods
  • Hemoperitoneum / etiology*
  • Hemoperitoneum / therapy
  • Hepatic Artery / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / etiology*
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / therapy
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / adverse effects