Cystic Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Rare Entity

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms.
• Hepatic lesions can present with non-specific abdominal symptoms and weight loss.

Observation:

• Sonography identified three cystic hepatic masses in a 70-year-old male patient.
• Contrast-enhanced MRI characterized the lesions, with differential diagnoses including parasitic disease or cystic metastases.
• 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT indicated a neuroendocrine origin for the hepatic lesions.

Findings:

• Biopsy confirmed the neuroendocrine nature of the liver lesions.
• The primary tumor site could not be identified, leading to two diagnostic possibilities: primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor or neuroendocrine cancer of unknown primary.

Implications:

• This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in identifying the primary site of neuroendocrine tumors presenting as hepatic lesions.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management and treatment strategies for neuroendocrine neoplasms.
• Further investigation may be needed to determine the origin of unknown primary neuroendocrine cancers.