Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
08:40
A Biomimetic Model for Liver Cancer to Study Tumor-Stroma Interactions in a 3D Environment with Tunable Bio-Physical Properties
Published on: August 7, 2020
6.4K
A Potentially Misleading Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Ottavia De Simoni1, Andrea Barina1, Mario Gruppo1
1Surgical Oncology of Digestive Tract Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Castelfranco Veneto (TV), Via Dei Carpani 16/Z, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|August 27, 2021
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a healthy individual, detected via elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. The successful laparoscopic resection highlights AFP
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Surgical Oncology
- Diagnostic Biomarkers
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually develops in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.
- Development of HCC in a healthy liver, particularly within an accessory liver lobe, is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old woman with no history of liver disease presented with an elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of 226.3 µg/mL during routine screening.
- An intraoperative finding revealed an ovaloid mass attached to the second hepatic segment via a thin pedicle.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed the mass as a trabecular hepatocellular carcinoma.
- The lesion was successfully resected using a laparoscopic approach.
- A 6-month follow-up showed no evidence of recurrent disease.
Implications:
- This case underscores the sensitivity of serum AFP as a marker for HCC, even in atypical presentations.
- It highlights the possibility of HCC occurring in healthy livers, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
- This represents one of the few reported cases of HCC in an accessory liver lobe in an otherwise healthy individual.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
01:23Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...