Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma with subsequent cerebral and spinal metastases

A 72-year-old man was referred to us for evaluation of asymptomatic masses in the liver that had been detected on ultrasonography performed during a physical screening. The level of neuron-specific enolase was elevated (56.97 ng/mL; normal level, 15.7-17.0 ng/mL). Other tumor markers were normal, including alpha fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 199. No tumor was found through chest CT scan, gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Abdominal MR demonstrated multiple masses with irregular central necrosis, which appeared as marked hyperintensity on T2WI. Most lesions showed rim-like enhancement at portal venous phase. Pathological examination of tissue obtained by means of percutaneous biopsy indicated that the tumor was composed of small cells which were arranged in nests and trabeculae, the nuclei were round with little cytoplasm, and nuclear division was present (hematoxylin-eosin stain.