Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma with haemoperitoneum: a rare condition in Western countries.

BACKGROUND: Haemoperitoneum secondary to non-traumatic liver rupture is a rare but potentially fatal condition. It may result from several neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases such as primary benign or malignant tumours, peliosis hepatis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, pre-eclampsia and metastatic carcinoma. CASE OUTLINES: Three cases of spontaneous haemoperitoneum caused by rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma are described. All three patients (two men, one woman) had cirrhotic livers, and all were submitted to an urgent operation.One patient re-bled on a second occasion. Emergency operation was undertaken four times in three patients and was successful on all but one occasion. DISCUSSION: The prognosis for patients with haemoperitoneum is generally poor. Although this condition is relatively frequent in some regions of Asia and Africa, it has rarely been reported in Western countries.The present experience shows that emergency laparotomy can be life-saving.

Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare disorder that occurs most commonly in young women. It has a low potential for malignancy, and the prognosis following resection is favourable. CASE OUTLINE: An 18-year-old white girl presented with a palpable mass in the right hypochondrium on physical examination associated with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, but no fever. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy revealed extrinsic compression of the posterior wall of the antrum and duodenal bulb with no mucosal lesion. Computed tomography (CT) scan and then laparotomy revealed a large tumour adjacent to the hepatic hilum and originating from the head of pancreas. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed, and a diagnosis of papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas was made.There was no evidence of recurrence after 6 years of follow-up. DISCUSSION: A radical surgical approach is justified for papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas because of its biological behaviour, local aggressiveness and low incidence of metastases.