Veno-Occlusive Disease and Peliosis of the Liver Complicating the Course of Wilms' Tumour

Abstract

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver was diagnosed in 8 patients with Wilms' tumour and peliosis hepatis (PH) in one. Fever of obscure origin, vague abdominal pain, hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly, severe anaemia or sudden, unexplained drop in haemoglobin, thrombocytopenia, increasing serum transaminase levels, jaundice and ascites recorded within the first weeks or months of tumour diagnosis should arise suspicion of non-metastatic vascular hepatopathy. General or focal decreased accumulation of isotope at liver scintigraphy belong to the early radiologic findings. Sonography and CT may show a generalized irregular echogenicity or attenuation but no unequivocal metastases. One patient with PH had multiple low attenuating foci in both liver lobes and angiographically abnormal pooling of contrast medium in the liver. It is important to recognize these conditions as alternatives to suspected liver metastases, which as a rule develop much later yet on occasions may have very similar radiologic appearances. Therefore the relation in time between tumour diagnosis, initial operation and development of obscure hepatic manifestations is of critical significance for the recognition of VOD or PH. In these patients chemotherapy and irradiation must be discontinued without delay. If the disorders are adequately treated the prognosis may be considered fair.