Only six cases of hepatic metastatic disease presenting as acute fulminant liver failure have been recorded in the literature. A seventh case is reported here where, after presenting in acute liver failure, it was not possible to establish a tissue diagnosis but evidence of massive liver replacement by tumour was provided by ultrasound imaging and radionuclide scintiscanning.
SherlockS.Diseases of the liver and biliary system, 6th edition. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications1981.
2.
Editorial. Metastases in the liver. Br Med J1981; 282: 2078–2079.
3.
MalloryTB, CastlemanB, ParrisEE. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital; weekly clinico-pathological exercises; Case 32401. N Engl J Med1946; 235: 521–524.
4.
KraussEA, LudwigPW, SumnerH.Metastatic carcinoma presenting as fulminant hepatic failure. Am J Gastroenterol1979; 72: 651–654.
5.
HarrisonMB, MiddletonHM, CrosbyJH, DasherMN. Fulminant hepatic failure: An unusual presentation of metastatic liver disease. Gastroenterology1981; 80: 820–825.
6.
MorrisonWL, PenningtonCR. Liver metastases from an occult breast carcinoma presenting as acute fulminant hepatic failure. Br J Clin Practice1984; 38: 273–274.
7.
SchumanLS. Abdominal surgery. N Engl J Med1983; 309: 498.
8.
BydderG.Clinical aspects of NMR imaging. Edited by SteinerRE. In Recent Advances in Radiology and Medical Imaging 7. Edinburgh, London, Melbourne and New York: Churchill Livingston1983: 15–33.