Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to carcinoma: report of two cases.

In two patients who had Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to carcinoma, the 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 noted in the literature, it is extremely difficult to relate carcinoma to the origin of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Retro- and suprahepatic involvement 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 before initiating appropriate and radical surgical treatment.