Haematogenous metastasis to ascending colon in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract

The association of hepatocellular carcinoma with chronic active autoimmune hepatitis and haematogenous metastasis to ascending colon has not been reported previously in the literature. The patient was asymptomatic for colonic disease and the finding of colonic involvement was incidental on scans subsequently confirmed by colonoscopy. Usually hepatocellular tumour mass would involve the colon by direct contiguity. Owing to haematogenous metastasis, which is extremely rare, the colonic mass was discontiguous from hepatic tumour lesions. The unique presentation of this case and the differential diagnosis of hepatic tumours coexisting with colonic tumours are highlighted in this case report.