Case report: 65-year-old man with metachronous left sided adrenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Due to therapeutic advances and improvements in follow-up care, the diagnosis and treatment of extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] have gained clinical significance. However, adrenal gland metastases of HCC remain a rare clinical encounter. Several systemic and local treatment options are discussed in current literature. Adrenalectomy in cases of isolated adrenal metastases with well-controlled intrahepatic lesions has been shown to benefit patients in case series. This 65-year-old patient presented with suspected metachronous left sided adrenal metastasis seven years after bisegmentectomy for HCC and after undergoing trans-arterial chemoembolization [TACE] for multifocal intrahepatic recurrences while being listed for liver transplantation “beyond Milan criteria”. Adrenalectomy was suggested for histopathological confirmation of the suspected metastasis and re-consideration for liver transplant. The resection was performed laparoscopically and metastasis of HCC was confirmed in histopathological analysis. Postoperatively, the patient recovered quickly. However, the patient decided against re-listing for liver transplantation. Current literature suggests, that minimally-invasive adrenalectomy should be considered in patients with no more than two extrahepatic lesions, a Child-Pugh-Score of less than A5, low alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] levels