Question:


A woman presents with massive pulmonary thromboembolism. The gross appearance of the liver at autopsy is shown. Which of the following statements best characterizes the patient's condition?

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Which abdominal cancer drains via the portal vein straight to the liver?
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Metastasis from pulmonary embolism
  • Angiosarcoma
  • Colonic adenocarcinoma with metastasis
  • Locally invaded hepatocellular carcinoma
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The gross specimen shows multiple discrete tumor masses studding the liver, which is the classic picture of metastatic deposits rather than a single primary tumor.

Step 2: The liver is the commonest site of metastasis for tumors that drain first into the portal circulation. The colon and rectum drain through the portal vein, so a colonic adenocarcinoma readily seeds the liver.

Step 3: Metastatic liver disease is found in about 10% to 25% of patients undergoing surgery for primary colorectal cancer, making option 3 the best fit.

Step 4: Angiosarcoma (a primary vascular tumor) and hepatocellular carcinoma (a single locally invasive mass) do not produce this multinodular metastatic pattern, and "metastasis from PE" is not a recognized entity, so they are wrong.
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