Rare hepatic metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma masquerading as hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

A 52-year-old male was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in June 2021 after experiencing abdominal pain and bloating. He had previously undergone resection for a Merkel cell tumor in March 2021, with no metastasis found. Three months later, imaging suggested a liver mass consistent with liver cancer. Lab tests showed elevated hepatitis B surface antigen (>130 IU/ml) and alpha-fetoprotein (24.54 IU/ml), and the imaging features resembled hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Finally,it was diagnosed as liver metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma by pathology.