A Rare Find: How Cardiac Sonography Reveals Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Heart

A Case Study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy, the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and the third-leading cause of cancer-related death (Senarslan, 2016). HCC often metastasizes to distant organs; although cardiac involvement is rare, it carries significant diagnostic and prognostic implications. One unusual but critical presentation is the growth of metastatic HCC in the interatrial septum.

The following case showcases an excellent example of both an interatrial mass as well as a right ventricular mass caused by HCC. The below lesson includes:

• Echocardiographic findings to guide you on what to look for, giving you the tools you need to assess the mass.

• Differential diagnoses to help you distinguish between lesions with confidence, reducing the risk of mistakes in identification.

• The functional effects of HCC and interatrial masses—helping you identify what to watch for in these cases.