Authors: Ayami Ohno Akira Mori Ryuichiro Doi Yoshikuni Yonenaga Noboru Asano Shinji Uemoto
Publish Date: 2010/08/26
Volume: 40, Issue: 9, Pages: 878-882
Abstract
Mitochondrial Myopathy Encephalopathy Lactic Acidosis and Strokelike syndrome MELAS is a rare fetal disease caused by a mutation in mitochondrial DNA that leads to impaired oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle the central nervous system and liver function This report presents the case of a 50yearold woman with biliary cystadenocarcinoma complicated by MELAS who underwent a successful left hemihepatectomy In this case the diagnostic key for the malignant tumor was an 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study which was useful even in a patient with MELAS which causes abnormal glucose metabolism The perioperative management of such patients includes special precautions to prevent lactic acidosis and deterioration of the reserved liver function after a hepatectomy since the mitochondrial function in MELAS patients is abnormal The patient in this report has remained free of liver dysfunctions and cancer recurrence for 2 years following the hepatectomy This is the first report of a successful major hepatectomy for a patient with MELAS
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