Primary hepatic carcinoid tumor: a case report

A case of primary hepatic carcinoid tumor is reported. A 57-year-old woman had no endocrine symptoms. Light microscopic findings revealed tumor cells forming trabecular or insular structures and demonstrating diffuse positive staining by the Grimelius method. Mucin stained with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian-blue was partially present in the tumor cells. Immunohistochemically, most tumor cells stained positive with chromogranin A and cytokeratin stains. Intensive and careful investigation before and after the operation revealed no other origin of the tumor. We present this rare case, describe the clinical features of hepatic carcinoid, and discuss its diagnosis.