Case 304: Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

• Published in: Radiology Vol. 304; no. 2; pp. 488 - 492
• Main Authors: Luque-Cabal, María, Álvarez-Guisasola, Verónica, Rizzo-Raza, Sofía, Sales-Fernández, Covadonga, Escudero-Caro, Trinidad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2022
• DOI: 10.1148/radiol.204599
• ISSN: 0033-8419

HISTORYIn 2017, a 72-year-old woman was seen in the gastroenterology department with a 2-month history of mild and intermittent abdominal pain without other accompanying symptoms. Her medical history was unremarkable, except for a previous visit due to facial photodermatitis 3 years earlier. Diazepam for a sleeping disorder was the only chronic medication recorded. Results of physical examination, blood count, and basic metabolic panels including assessment of renal and liver function were normal; only the ferritin level was slightly elevated (265 ng/mL [595 pmol/L]; normal range, 10-120 ng/mL [22-269 pmol/L]). Abdominal US was performed, followed by multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT and liver MRI due to the findings of the first study. A diagnosis was not established in that moment, and acetaminophen was prescribed for pain relief. As the symptoms continued, laboratory tests and imaging studies were repeated 2 years later, with similar findings and no notable changes.