J Liver Cancer.  2025 Sep;25(2):266-271. 10.17998/jlc.2025.05.06.

Orbital metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma: rare cause of exophthalmos in chronic liver disease

• Lim E
• Jang ES
• Paik JH
• Jeong SH
• Kim JW

• KMID: 2572073
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2025.05.06

Abstract

Orbital metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare, and patients often present with ocular symptoms before the primary tumor is diagnosed. Here, we report two cases of orbital metastasis from HCC with distinct clinical courses. The first case involved a patient with no prior cancer history who presented with vision loss and was subsequently diagnosed with HCC following an orbital mass biopsy. The second case involved a patient with known HCC undergoing treatment who initially presented with periorbital swelling misdiagnosed as cellulitis before orbital metastasis was confirmed. Both cases highlight the importance of considering orbital metastasis in patients with ocular symptoms, even in the absence of a known malignancy. Given the poor prognosis and limited treatment options for orbital metastasis, early recognition through imaging and histopathological confirmation is crucial for appropriate management.

Keyword

Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Orbit; Neoplasm metastasis; Exophthalmos