A 76-year-old man with a history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis presented with a 4-day
history of melena. He had been diagnosed 30 months previously with hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC), but chose to not receive further evaluation or treatment. Laboratory
findings revealed severe anemia (hemoglobin 4.9 g/dL) and liver dysfunction. A computed
tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an enlarged HCC mass (10-cm diameter) located in
the left lobe of the liver, compressing the stomach ([Fig. 1]). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) detected a submucosal tumor with central ulceration
in the lesser curvature of the stomach ([Fig. 2]).
Fig. 1 Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showing a markedly enlarged hepatocellular
carcinoma in the left lobe (arrowhead), approximately 10 cm in diameter, which was
compressing the stomach (arrows).
Fig. 2 Endoscopic views showing: a a submucosal tumor with central ulceration in the lesser curvature of the stomach;
b, c infiltrating irregular reddish-white tumor with partial necrosis, showing intermittent
blood oozing.
The patient was diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage caused by direct
HCC invasion and angioembolization was performed to promote hemostasis. However, a
follow-up CT scan revealed that the perigastric portion of the HCC remained viable
and the possibility of recurrent bleeding remained a concern. In response, a polyglycolic
acid (PGA) sheet (Neoveil; Gunze Co., Kyoto, Japan) and fibrin glue were endoscopically
applied to the ulcerous lesion ([Video 1]), implementing a method used in previous studies [1]
[2]. An EGD 2 days after the procedure showed that the PGA sheet remained intact.
Video 1 Endoscopic shielding of a hemorrhagic gastric ulcer due to invasive hepatocellular
carcinoma using polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet and fibrin glue.
The patient opted to be discharged and received palliative medical care at home. He
had no subsequent recurrence of melena prior to his death from hepatic failure 14
days after the procedure.
HCC with direct invasion into the stomach is very rare and the prognosis is ominous
owing to poor hepatic reserve and continuous bleeding from the lesion [3]. Moreover, a nonsurgical treatment, such as angioembolization, does not always achieve
complete hemostasis [4]. Application of PGA sheets has been used to prevent perforation, stricture, or bleeding
after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) [1]
[2] and has effectively repaired GI fistulas and perforated post-ESD ulcers [5]. Therefore, the endoscopic application of PGA shielding for patients with HCC and
direct GI invasion may be considered as the conservative treatment of choice.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AO_2AD
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