HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN A YOUNG WOMAN WHICH OCCURED IN THE LIVER WITHOUT VIRUS INFECTION

• Published in: Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association) Vol. 65; no. 7; pp. 1918 - 1923
• Main Authors: SANADA, Hiroaki, SUEDA, Taijiro, NAKAI, Shiro, FUJIMOTO, Mikio, SANTO, Takahiro, MIYAMOTO, Katsunari, SHIMAMOTO, Fumio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Surgical Association 2004
• ISSN: 1345-2843; 1882-5133
• DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.65.1918

A 31-year-old woman who was accidentally detected having a hepatic tumor at a medical checkup was admitted to our hospital for further exploration and treatment. Abdominal CT and magnetic resonance imaging scans visualized a tumor with the maximum diameter of about 5 cm in the S5 area of the liver. The hepatic tumor was removed under laparotomy. Histological diagnosis was hepatocellular carcinoma arisen in liver cell adenoma. On hematological studies conducted before surgery, hepatitis virus marker was negative, and all tumor markers including α-fetoprotein, PIVKA-II, and CA19-9 were also negative. The patient has been free from recurrence as of 2 years 7 months after the surgery. Although juvenile onset of hepatocellular carcinoma lacking any background risk factors is rare, we can actually encounter it. Consequently a possibility of malignancy must usually be kept in mind in diagnosing hepatic tumors in young people. Furthermore this case showed so rare morphology that hepatocellular carcinoma had arisen from liver cell adenoma, and no such cases have been reported in Japan. This paper presents the case together with bibliographical comments.