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Undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver: a case report with immunohistochemical analysis
Takashi Maeda1, Hiroto Kayashima2, Daisuke Imai2
1Department of Surgery, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, 1-9-6 Senda-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-8619, Japan. tksmaeda9@gmail.com.
Background:
Undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) of the liver is extremely rare, and its clinicopathological characteristics have not been fully elucidated.
Case Presentation:
The present study reports the case of a 56-year-old male with UC of the liver. At 16 days post-admission, the patient suddenly succumbed due to intra-abdominal bleeding resulting from a ruptured liver. Macroscopic examination revealed that the hepatic parenchyma was almost completely replaced by innumerable minute nodules. Microscopically, the tumor demonstrated a diffuse proliferation of anaplastic cells that were positive for epithelial membrane antigen and neuron-specific enolase, suggesting neuroendocrine differentiation. Grimelius and Fontana-Masson staining were negative. Neuroendocrine markers were also negative, including chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and S-100 protein. Cytokeratin markers and mesenchymal markers were all negative. Tumor markers, such as α-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen, were also negative.
Conclusions:
Although larger studies involving more patients are required to establish a therapeutic strategy, appropriate chemotherapy following an early diagnosis may be important to UC of the liver because the tumor behaves in an aggressive way.
