Ruptured hepatoma: report of 5 cases in Arabs

Objective and Importance: Ruptured hepatic tumours are common among South East Asians. They are rare in whites and in Arabs. Arab cirrhotics who develop acute abdominal pain associated with hypovolaemia and evidence of intra-abdominal bleeding ought to be suspected of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Presentation: Five cases of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma in Arabs are reported. All patients had liver cirrhosis, and radical surgery was not possible due to the advanced stage of the tumour. Two patients who underwent common hepatic artery ligation survived for more than 9 months after the acute episode. The other 3 died in the hospital due to liver failure. Hepatic dearterialization was found effective in controlling bleeding from ruptured hepatoma. Other modalities of management such as hepatic artery embolization or intratumoural alcohol injection have been found effective in controlling bleeding