Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world, particularly in Asia and part of Africa. Hepatocellular carcinoma usually spreads to the lung and regional lymph nodes and its clinical presentation with bone metastasis to scapulae is very rare. We experienced a patient who was a 60-year-old female, visited for unilateral shoulder pain with previous hepatocellular carcinoma history. The physical examination suggested supraspinatus tear and joint problem, but pain nature was atypical. In further MRI imaging, scapular metastasis with full thickness tear of supraspinatus was detected. So we confirmed scapular metastatic lesion by hepatocellular carcinoma and transferred to gastrointestinal department for intensive care, but she discharged to home her own way. She expired with dyspnea and heart arrest 1 month later. We report the scapular metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma with total supraspinatus tendon rupture. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 1007-1010)
