Anteroposterior abdominal radiography revealed radiopaque point
masses throughout the abdomen. No evidence of obstruction or pneumoperitoneum
was reported (Fig. 1A). An abdominal ultrasound scan
revealed a hypoechoic nodule within the abdominal cavity, possibly
accounted for by superior mesenteric lymph nodes (8 × 5 mm2
). Laboratory
test results are shown in Table 1. The hemoglobin (99.2 g/l) was
considerably lower when compared with test results 2 weeks earlier
(142 g/l). Liver function tests revealed extremely elevated enzyme concentrations
(Table 1, aspartate aminotransferase 581 U/l; alanine aminotransferase 680 U/l). The renal function was not obviously abnormal
(creatinine 19.6 μmol/l; urea nitrogen 2.0 mmol/l)