Cystic Liver Metastasis from Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mimicking A Benign Hepatic Cystic Lesion

Abstract

Hepatic cysts are common benign incidental findings, whereas cystic liver metastases are rare findings. We report a case of p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in which a hepatic lesion initially presumed to be a benign hepatic cystic lesion was subsequently identified to be cystic metastasis. During surveillance after chemoradiotherapy, the lesion demonstrated progressive enlargement, increasing internal heterogeneity, and subsequent wall thickening, raising suspicion of malignancy. Surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. This case underscores that cystic liver metastasis may mimic a benign hepatic cystic lesion and thus requires careful longitudinal imaging assessment.

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BibTeX

@article{ishiguro2026cystic,
  title = {{Cystic Liver Metastasis from Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mimicking A Benign Hepatic Cystic Lesion}},
  author = {Yuya Ishiguro and Yoshihiko Hiraga and Koji Atsuta and Tomohiro Sugiyama},
  journal = {Internal Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.2169/internalmedicine.7738-26},
  url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/advpub/0/advpub_7738-26/_article},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Cystic Liver Metastasis from Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mimicking A Benign Hepatic Cystic Lesion
AU  - Yuya Ishiguro
AU  - Yoshihiko Hiraga
AU  - Koji Atsuta
AU  - Tomohiro Sugiyama
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/25
JO  - Internal Medicine
DO  - 10.2169/internalmedicine.7738-26
UR  - https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/advpub/0/advpub_7738-26/_article
AB  - Hepatic cysts are common benign incidental findings, whereas cystic liver metastases are rare findings. We report a case of p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in which a hepatic lesion initially presumed to be a benign hepatic cystic lesion was subsequently identified to be cystic metastasis. During surveillance after chemoradiotherapy, the lesion demonstrated progressive enlargement, increasing internal heterogeneity, and subsequent wall thickening, raising suspicion of malignancy. Surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. This case underscores that cystic liver metastasis may mimic a benign hepatic cystic lesion and thus requires careful longitudinal imaging assessment.
SN  - 1349-7235
SN  - 0918-2918
ER  -

Abstract

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