A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with fever and abdominal pain in the epigastric region. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated a well-defined hypoechoic mass in the epigastric region with encasement of the left hepatic lobe and stomach. Computed tomography confirmed a low-density mass, 20 cm in diameter, with enhancing peripheral areas. Angiography revealed the tumor to be hypovascular. After admission, the patient had a persistent fever and anemia that required transfusions of concentrated red blood cells. On the twelfth day after admission, she suffered disseminated intravascular coagulation and underwent an emergency operation. A lateral segmentectomy with dissection of lymph nodes, cholecystectomy, and hemigastrectomy were carried out. The size of the tumor was 22 x 17 x 15 cm. Macroscopically, a cross-section revealed massive necrosis with hemorrhage. Histological examination of the tumor showed a malignant neoplasm with a carcinomatous component and a sarcomatous component, which were partly intermingled. The former consisted of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, while the latter consisted of pleomorphic spindle cells. Immunohistochemical examination of the sarcomatous component showed positive staining for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and cytokeratin. The tumor was diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma with extensive sarcomatous changes, based on these histological and immunohistochemical findings. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. However, she died 3 months after surgery from dissemination of the carcinoma. The literature on this rare disease is reviewed and discussed.
Results indicated that AHCC inhibits the induction of iNOS at the level of transcription, causing a decrease in NO production in hepatocytes. AHCC seems to decrease the levels of iNOS mRNA by reducing mRNA stabilization rather than inhibiting its synthesis.
BackgroundPrimary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas are extremely rare. Because of the rarity of PHNEC, its clinical features and treatment outcomes are not well understood. A proper diagnosis and the correct therapeutic approach therefore remain clinically challenging.Case presentationA 67-year-old man was admitted to our department because of a liver tumor. Computed tomography revealed a single liver tumor 50 mm in diameter and located in the S3 region. Biopsy and imaging findings resulted in a diagnosis of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Left lateral segmentectomy was performed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD56. Ki-67 was positive in > 90% of the tumor cells. The final diagnosis was primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. The patient suffered two episodes of lymph node recurrence. Nonetheless, the tumor was excised to prolong survival. Thus, after lymphadenectomy, he received adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months. Two years after surgery, the patient remains alive and in good general condition.ConclusionsIn most cases, primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, while extremely rare, has a poor prognosis. At present, surgical resection is a priority for curative treatment, but in patients with recurrence, combined therapies are recommended.
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