[An autopsy case with a combination of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma]

A 68-year-old male was admitted to the Kurume University Hospital with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum CEA levels ranged from 3.7 ng/ml and 6.8 ng/ml during the course. Serum AFP levels were at normal range at admission and elevated to 13,250 ng/ml 3 months before death. He died of liver failure 17 months after admission. An autopsy disclosed diffuse infiltrative tumors distributed throughout the liver with metastasis to the bilateral lungs. Histologically, tumors of the liver consisted of elements of both HCC and cholangiolocellular carcinoma. Cholangiolocellular carcinoma is believed to occur from the canals of Hering or cholangiole, and this case may provide further information as to the histogenesis of combined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma.