Ectopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Unusual Retroperitoneal Location: Case Report and Review of Published Evidence

Hepatocellular carcinoma developing in aberrant locations (EHCC) exhibits a morphologic and immunohistochemical profile similar to that of classic intrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, it springs from ectopic liver tissue (EL)—hepatic parenchyma anatomically detached from the main hepatic mass. Due to its scarcity, EHCC is difficult to identify preoperatively. Consequently, its distribution across populations, optimal management, and long-term outcomes remain poorly mapped. In this contribution, we detail the clinical course of a 52-year-old man found to have unresectable EHCC, who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ultimately died 13 months post-intervention, supplemented by a review of published reports that consolidates the epidemiological picture and scrutinizes treatment pathways and survival endpoints pooled from documented case data.