AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: We report a case of isolated HCC metastasis to the left triangular ligament discovered incidentally during laparoscopic hepatectomy, which posed a differential diagnostic challenge between ectopic HCC and extrahepatic metastasis.<h4>Case presentation</h4>A 62-year-old man was referred for evaluation of increasing serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (27772 ng/mL).