Ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma evokes risk of implanted metastases.

In three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), implanted metastases occurred in the peritoneal or pleural cavity after rupture of the tumors; in one patient this was caused by trauma, and in two others this complication became obvious during resection of the tumor. Hepatic resection was successful, and the postoperative status was satisfactory. Implanted metastases were present in the peritoneal or pleural cavity of these three patients 6 years, 10 months, and 6 months after surgery, respectively. We wish to emphasize that a ruptured HCC may lead to implanted metastases.