The Incidental Finding of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Echocardiography

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatic malignancy. Most cases of primary hepatic carcinoma are secondary to either viral hepatitis infections (hepatitis C or hepatitis B) or cirrhosis, with chronic alcohol abuse being the most common cause of hepatic cirrhosis. Echocardiography is done primarily to evaluate the overall function of the heart; the condition of the heart muscle, heart valves, and chamber sizes; and the risk for heart disease. It is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of medical or surgical treatment over time. The case presented emphasizes the importance of performing a complete echocardiographic protocol on each patient and being aware of the surrounding structures that might be seen at the periphery of standard images. During an echocardiographic examination, diseases other than heart disease may be found incidentally and should be reported to the referring physician to optimally manage the patient’s care.
Source: Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Case Studies Source Type: research