Atypical presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma: a mass on the left thoracic wall

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy for which chronic hepatitis B infection has been defined as the most common etiologic factor. The most frequent metastatic sites are the lung, bone, lymphatics, and brain, respectively. Metastases to the chest wall have been reported only rarely. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who presented with an isolated metastatic mass on the left anterolateral chest wall in the axillary region. CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis of HCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of rapidly growing lesions in unusual localizations, particularly in patients with chronic liver disease even if a primary tumor can not be radiologically identified.