[Research progress on pseudocirrhosis].

Abstract

Presently, pseudocirrhosis occurs in most patients with liver metastases from malignant tumors and can exhibit clinical manifestations related to portal hypertension, such as edema, ascites, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Imaging features include malignant tumor liver metastasis, the appearance of nodules accompanied with or without hepatic contour, segmental liver volume reduction, and caudate lobe enlargement. Histology shows the typical pathological manifestations of liver cirrhosis, such as diffuse tumor cell infiltration, fibrosis around the infiltrating lesion, hepatic sinus vascular thrombosis, nodular hyperplasia, non-accompanied bridging necrosis, bridging fibrosis, and pseudolobule formation. The possible pathogenesis of pseudocirrhosis is tumor cell infiltration and toxic reactions of tumor cells and liver cells to chemotherapy. The presence of pseudocirrhosis in patients diagnosed with malignant tumors is one of the challenges affecting their survival cycle and shortening the median survival time. The relationship between its onset, tumor type and metastasis, and the use of chemotherapy drugs is still unclear. The atypical clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics bring about great challenges for clinicians and patients. Thus, based on the existing case reports, observational studies, and meta-analysis results, this article reviews the research progress on the prevalence, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of pseudocirrhosis.