The pseudocirrhotic liver: Hepar lobatum carcinomatosum in a patient with triple-negative breast cancer

Hepar lobatum carcinomatosum (HLC) is a rare hepatic manifestation of metastatic malignancy that mimics cirrhosis in imaging and morphology but arises from entirely different pathophysiological mechanisms. Most commonly associated with breast cancer, particularly hormone-receptor-positive subtypes, HLC in the context of triple-negative breast cancer is extremely rare. This report presents the case of a 65-year-old woman with triple-negative breast cancer who developed progressive liver deformation consistent with HLC over a 12-month period, as documented by sequential computed tomography and Magnetic resonance imaging. Despite systemic chemotherapy, the liver showed marked lobulation, capsular retraction, and segmental atrophy in the absence of cirrhosis risk factors. Radiological features and clinical findings were analysed in light of current literature. The case emphasizes the need for heightened clinical suspicion and diagnostic accuracy to distinguish HLC from pseudocirrhosis and true cirrhosis, thereby improving patient management and prognosis.