RESUMO
Primary cancer of the liver is rare in western countries. Men of a mean age of 60 tend to be more subject to it than women. In Africa, however, younger people of a mean age of 36 and more women become subject to it. 13.5% of malignant tumours of the liver are found in African women with a mean age of 34 years. Thus, the association of liver cancer with pregnancy is rare. The case which has been studied concerns a woman of 34 years of age, a para. 2 in her 4th pregnancy. There were no known pathogenic factors such as the taking of androgens or of oral contraceptives. The main symptoms were pain in the right side and in the centre of the abdomen. A tumour increasing in size was found. The alpha fetoprotein ratio was high and increased as pregnancy progressed. Ultrasound and scintography were positive. Liver cytology testing failed. The patient died soon because the disease progressed rapidly after a stillborn baby had been born prematurely and laparatomy had been undertaken. Laparatomy is the last possible method of diagnosis and treatment. Pregnancy seems to accelerate the development of liver tumours and makes them a very high risk. Since chemotherapy has not yet been demonstrated to be effective, only surgery can be considered as a possible therapy. The association of primary cancer of the liver with pregnancy is rare and of poor prognosis.
