Hepatocellular carcinoma chest x ray

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dildar Hussain, MBBS [2]

Chest x-ray may be helpful in the identification of certain complications that can occur as a result of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in the detection of HCC metastasis to the lungs or to detect pleural effusion.

Chest x-ray (CXR) has a limited role in the diagnosis and management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, however chest x-ray might be helpful in the detection of HCC metastasis to the lungs or to detect pleural effusion.^[1][2][3][4]

• CXR is used to screen for ascites, seek evidence of bowel perforation in patients with suspected spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and monitor bowel distension in acutely ill patients admitted for treatment of decompensation or variceal hemorrhage.
• X-ray may show elevation of the diaphragm from ascites.
• Gynecomastia may be appreciated on CXR.
• The azygos vein may be enlarged due to collateral flow and pleural effusions may develop due to pleuroperitoneal fistulas.
• Esophageal varices may be detected on barium study.
  

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