A case of isolated metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma arising from the pelvic bone / 대한간학회지

Reports of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without a primary liver tumor are rare. Here we present a case of isolated HCC that had metastasized to the pelvic bone without a primary focus. A 73-year-old man presented with severe back and right-leg pain. Radiological examinations, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a huge mass on the pelvic bone (13x10 cm). He underwent an incisional biopsy, and the results of the subsequent histological examination were consistent with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), hepatocyte paraffin 1, and glypican-3, and negative for CD56, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin on immunohistochemical staining. Examination of the liver by CT, MRI, positron-emission tomography scan, and angiography produced no evidence of a primary tumor. Radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization were performed on the pelvic bone, followed by systemic chemotherapy. These combination treatments resulted in tumor regression with necrotic changes. However, multiple lung metastases developed 1 year after the treatment, and the patient was treated with additional systemic chemotherapy.

Paraffin baiting system for demonstration of growth and biofilm production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the commonest pathogens among the pseudomonads. This organism can grow in minimal nutritional requirements. Because of the ability of pseudomonads to grow on paraffin is not commonly found among other human pathogens and the primary human pathogen being P. aeruginosa, we studied the adaptation of this organism to paraffin baiting system for growth and biofilm formation. Strains were tested for the capacity to use paraffin as the sole source of carbon using Czapek's minimal salt medium. Of the 53 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, 20 strains exhibited growth by 24 hrs and 42 strains by 48 hrs. The remaining strains did not show any growth in the paraffin baiting system. The oxidase test with the paraffin baiting system was also performed. This simple and inexpensive method can be used to isolate and demonstrate the biochemical and biofilm forming capacity of the organism.