Liver Metastasis: A Rare and Sinister Cause of Shoulder Pain.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Single patient case report
PubMed 39569264 · doi:10.7759/cureus.71966
What was done
This was a case report describing the clinical presentation and diagnostic workup of an elderly female who presented with right shoulder pain caused by referred pain from liver metastasis.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data. It reports that the patient presented with right shoulder pain that was triggered by deep breathing while retaining full active and passive shoulder mobility, which prompted further evaluation that revealed underlying liver metastasis.
Why it matters
It highlights liver pathology as a rare visceral cause of referred right shoulder pain, providing a clinical reminder to evaluate non-musculoskeletal etiologies when joint range of motion is intact and symptoms are linked to respiration.
Limits
Findings are limited to a single patient (n=1), precluding any conclusions regarding incidence, diagnostic accuracy, or generalizability. The abstract does not provide details on the primary malignancy, specific imaging modalities, or subsequent management and outcomes.