Cytology as the guiding light: Prompt cytomorphologic diagnosis of cystic metastases from a jejunal neuroendocrine tumor masquerading as hepatic abscesses

Abstract

Hepatic cystic lesions are commonly seen in radiology and can occur due to infective or neoplastic causes. It is imperative to determine the precise nature of these hepatic cysts owing to significant therapeutic and prognostic differences. Hepatic metastases from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) mostly present as solid hypervascular lesions. Cystic presentation of the metastatic NETs is extremely rare. A 64-year-old woman presented with an abdominal lump of 3 months duration and high-grade fever from the last 2 days. An ultrasound abdomen revealed multiple hypoechoic liver lesions suggestive of liver abscesses. An ultrasound-guided fineneedle aspiration (FNA) from the cystic liver lesions revealed a NET confirmed by immunocytochemistry. The Ki-67 index was 5%; hence, a final diagnosis of metastatic NET, grade 2, was given with advice to work up for localizing the primary tumor. Subsequently, a contrast-enhanced computerized tomography of the abdomen revealed a polypoidal lesion in the proximal jejunum, which showed intense expression on the whole-body DOTANOC scan (SUVmax-76.5), indicating it to be the likely primary tumor along with somatostatin receptor-expressing multiple lymph nodes and hypodense liver lesions. Thus, a final diagnosis of a jejunal NET with abdominal lymph node and liver metastases was made. The present report highlights the importance of FNA as a reliable modality in diagnosing metastatic NETs presenting as unusual cystic hepatic metastases masquerading as liver abscesses. Additionally, the cell block helps confirm the cytologic diagnosis and enables upfront tumor grading, thereby helping in prognostication and therapeutic decision-making.