Is porphyria cutanea tarda a risk factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma? A case report and review of the literature.

A patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is described, who subsequently died of hepatocellular carcinoma. The literature relating PCT to the incidence of primary hepatoma is reviewed, and the mechanisms underlying this possible association are discussed.