Case Report: Thoracic spinal metastasis without definite intrahepatic recurrence after conversion therapy and hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Case Study: Thoracic Spinal Metastasis Observed Without Clear Intrahepatic Recurrence Following Conversion Therapy and Hepatectomy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • By

  • Jiahui Chen

  • Yanhua Huang

  • Difan Zhou

  • September 9, 2026

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  • 1

    A 61-year-old man with hepatitis B-related HCC underwent conversion therapy and hepatectomy, showing no intrahepatic recurrence initially.

  • 2

    Despite negative liver imaging, rising alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin levels indicated potential extrahepatic disease progression.

  • 3

    PET/CT later revealed a destructive T2 vertebral lesion, leading to multilevel thoracic spinal metastases and subsequent neurological deterioration.

  • 4

    The case highlights the importance of systemic restaging when tumor markers rise, even with negative liver imaging results.

  • 5

    Prompt evaluation of spinal lesions is critical to prevent irreversible neurological injury following detection of metastases.

Original Source(s)

Case Report: Thoracic spinal metastasis without definite intrahepatic recurrence after conversion therapy and hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

  • by Jiahui Chen, Yanhua Huang, Difan Zhou

  • September 9, 2026

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