Primary giant hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report

Carcinoid tumours arise from neuroendocrine cells and may develop in almost any organ. These type of tumours actually are correctly termed neuroendocrine tumours. Hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas rarely arise as primary tumour; in fact on 100 cases reported in literature just a few of these are of primary nature. We report the case of a giant hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 55-year-old man. The symptoms were only recurrent hypoglycemia and an abdominal mass. Diagnosis was performed by blood analysis, ultrasonography, TC scan and In111-DTPA-octreotide scan. Surgical treatment occurred by an en bloc removal of the mass and a wide resection with free margins. Histological examination confirmed diagnosis. Clinical and instrumental diagnostic follow-up show the patient still alive, in very good conditions and disease free two years after surgery.