BUDD-CHIARI SYNDROME SECONDARY TO CARCINOMA - REPORT OF 2 CASES

In two patients who had Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to carcinoma, t he diagnosis was made intraoperatively at the time of emergency right atrial clearance required for severe cardiovascular distress. Curative resection was not possible and both patients died. As previously note d in the literature, it is extremely difficult to relate carcinoma to the origin of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Retro- and suprahepatic involvemen t of the vena cava is associated with a very poor prognosis. Complete resection of these tumors is the only potentially curative treatment. We suggest ways to obtain a simple and early histologic diagnosis befo re initiating appropriate and radical surgical treatment.