Acta neurochirurgica
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Metastasis to the skull frequently occurs in patients with lung, breast and prostate cancer. However, skull metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been rarely reported. We review the literature on skull metastasis from HCC and report a case of a 46-year-old male, who was diagnosed as HCC and was operated on by trans-arterial embolization and lobectomy in Oct. 2004. ⋯ Because of improved and advancing treatment for HCC, survival time for HCC has been lengthened and distant metastases will thus be found to increase. Early diagnosis is essential to treat the primary disease. Skull metastases from HCC should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with scalp subcutaneous mass and osteolytic defect on X-ray skull films.