Hepatocellular carcinoma-fibrolamellar variant: cytopathology of an unusual case

The fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) is an uncommon visceral malignancy with a distinctly better prognosis. An accurate initial diagnosis, therefore, is essential for prognostic and therapeutic reasons. This case report describes the cytomorphology of an unusual case of FL-HCC in a 13-yr-old boy who was found to have a hepatic mass with prominent intraluminal growth pattern seen predominantly in the right hepatic duct. A diagnosis of FL-HCC was originally suspected on bile duct brushings obtained during endoscopic retrograde choleangiopancreaticogram (ERCP) and subsequently confirmed on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and surgical resection of the hepatic tumor. The cytomorphologic profile of FL-HCC is distinctive in the right clinical setting, allowing an accurate preoperative identification of this malignancy on biliary brushing or FNA.