Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Spontaneous rupture of the liver capsule secondary to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare complication with high mortality. Case Description: This article presents the case of a 73-year-old male with no prior HCC diagnosis who presents acute abdominal pain and hemodynam...

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Main Authors: Haider Al Saadi, Reyam Al Zubaidi, Hervé O. Zender, Eric P. Heymann, Chiheb Said
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Emergency Care and Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-7914/2/1/13
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author Haider Al Saadi
Reyam Al Zubaidi
Hervé O. Zender
Eric P. Heymann
Chiheb Said
author_facet Haider Al Saadi
Reyam Al Zubaidi
Hervé O. Zender
Eric P. Heymann
Chiheb Said
author_sort Haider Al Saadi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Spontaneous rupture of the liver capsule secondary to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare complication with high mortality. Case Description: This article presents the case of a 73-year-old male with no prior HCC diagnosis who presents acute abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability. Computed tomography reveals a heterogeneous liver lesion with capsular rupture and hemoperitoneum. Discussion: Management strategies focus on hemodynamic stabilization and bleeding control through transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), surgical hemostasis or liver resection, the treatment selection is based on disease severity and patient condition. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of considering HCC rupture in patients with acute abdominal pain and risk factors for liver disease, as early recognition and appropriate intervention significantly impact survival outcomes.
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language English
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Emergency Care and Medicine
spelling doaj-art-cabfc45d05244761a8e315166089fb4a2025-08-20T02:42:46ZengMDPI AGEmergency Care and Medicine2813-79142025-03-01211310.3390/ecm2010013Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular CarcinomaHaider Al Saadi0Reyam Al Zubaidi1Hervé O. Zender2Eric P. Heymann3Chiheb Said4Emergency Department, Cantonal Hospital of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandInternal Medicine Department, Cantonal Hospital of Neuchâtel, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, SwitzerlandInternal Medicine Department, Cantonal Hospital of Neuchâtel, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, SwitzerlandEmergency Department, Cantonal Hospital of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandInternal Medicine Department, Cantonal Hospital of Neuchâtel, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, SwitzerlandBackground: Spontaneous rupture of the liver capsule secondary to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare complication with high mortality. Case Description: This article presents the case of a 73-year-old male with no prior HCC diagnosis who presents acute abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability. Computed tomography reveals a heterogeneous liver lesion with capsular rupture and hemoperitoneum. Discussion: Management strategies focus on hemodynamic stabilization and bleeding control through transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), surgical hemostasis or liver resection, the treatment selection is based on disease severity and patient condition. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of considering HCC rupture in patients with acute abdominal pain and risk factors for liver disease, as early recognition and appropriate intervention significantly impact survival outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-7914/2/1/13abdominal painhemoperitoneumhemorrhagic shockacute abdomenhepatocellular carcinomaspontaneous capsule rupture
spellingShingle Haider Al Saadi
Reyam Al Zubaidi
Hervé O. Zender
Eric P. Heymann
Chiheb Said
Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Emergency Care and Medicine
abdominal pain
hemoperitoneum
hemorrhagic shock
acute abdomen
hepatocellular carcinoma
spontaneous capsule rupture
title Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_full Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_fullStr Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_short Abdominal Pain Due to Liver Capsule Rupture: A Rare but Fatal Complication of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_sort abdominal pain due to liver capsule rupture a rare but fatal complication of hepatocellular carcinoma
topic abdominal pain
hemoperitoneum
hemorrhagic shock
acute abdomen
hepatocellular carcinoma
spontaneous capsule rupture
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-7914/2/1/13
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AT herveozender abdominalpainduetolivercapsuleruptureararebutfatalcomplicationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
AT ericpheymann abdominalpainduetolivercapsuleruptureararebutfatalcomplicationofhepatocellularcarcinoma
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