Adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver

A rare case of adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver is reported. An 85-year-old white man presented with a 6-month history of weight loss and an enlarged liver. A biopsy demonstrated a squamous cell carcinoma which was presumed to be metastatic with an occult primary. At autopsy, the liver was partially replaced by a focally cystic tumor. Histologically, the neoplasm demonstrated both malignant squamous and glandular contradistinctionmponents as well as foci of transition between the two. This is in co to the 5 previous reported cases of primary hepatic squamous cell carcinomas or tumors containing a squamous component. It is suggested that this neoplasm arose from malignant transformation of squamous metaplasia in a pre-existing cholangiocarcinoma.