HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA PRESENTING AS A SEPTICEMIA-LIKE ILLNESS IN AN AFRICAN ADOLESCENT

Although primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) is quite common in adu lts in Africa, it is very rare in those under 25. The clinical diagnos is is usually straightforward by the time patients present and it is u nusual to encounter differential diagnostic problems, We report an unu sual clinical manifestation of PHC al the very young age of 15 years. The case presented clinically as a septicaemia-like illness that was i nitially thought to be typhoid, The patient died within 72h of present ation and the true diagnosis was only made at post-mortem. This case s imultaneously highlights several problems commonly encountered in medi cine in the developing world: late presentation, self-medication, and investigative and diagnostic difficulties related to inadequate facili ties.