Synchronously resected double primary hepatic cancers - hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiolocellular carcinoma

The frequency of double primary cancers in the liver is very low. All reported cases are double cancers consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). We herein report a surgical patient who had simultaneous double cancers consisting of HCC and cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CoCC). This is the first case report of such a patient. A 70-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital for further examination of two hepatic nodules. He had a history of schistosomiasis japonica, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and diabetes mellitus. Laboratory data revealed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody was positive and hepatic enzymes were slightly elevated. The level of prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II was elevated. Computed tomography depicted two tumors; one, measuring 4.0 cm in diameter, was in the medial segment and the other, 2.2 cm in diameter, was in the posterior superior segment of the liver. The larger tumor showed contrast enhancement and the smaller one showed enhancement at the tumor periphery in the hepatic arterial phase. In the portal phase, the larger tumor became less dense than the liver parenchyma, but the periphery of the smaller one showed continuous enhancement. He underwent an operation under a diagnosis of double hepatic cancers, consisting of HCC and CCC. However, microscopic examination of the resected tumors revealed that the larger tumor was moderately differentiated HCC and the smaller one was CoCC.     

Surgical outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma originating in the caudate lobe

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originating in the caudate lobe is rare, and the treatment for this type of carcinoma is difficult because of its unique anatomic location. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed the surgical outcome of patients with caudate lobe HCC. There were 20 cases of HCC originating in the caudate lobe among 435 patients with primary HCC who underwent hepatic resection in our department from 1990 to 2002. The caudate tumors were located in the Spiegel lobe in 3 patients, the paracaval portion in 15 patients, and the caudate process in 2 patients. Surgical procedures consisted of limited resection of the caudate lobe in 6 patients and extended caudate lobectomy in 14 patients. Recurrence was recognized in 12 patients, including 8 patients with multiple intrahepatic recurrences, 1 with peritoneal dissemination, and 1 with lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in postoperative survival rate between patients who underwent limited resection of the caudate lobe and those who underwent extended caudate lobectomy. Compared with 415 patients with HCC originating in other locations, the 20 patients with caudate lobe HCC showed significantly more intraoperative blood loss (P<.05), longer operation time (P<.0001), and more postoperative complications (P<.005). Intrahepatic recurrence was more frequent in the caudate lobe HCC compared with HCC originating in other locations (40% vs 17.6%; P<.05). There was a significantly poor survival rate in the postoperative patients with caudate HCC (25.9% vs 54.1% for five-year survival; P=.01). Intrahepatic multiple recurrences were frequently recognized in the patients with caudate lobe HCC, indicating no significance for extended caudate lobectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the relatively poor prognosis in patients with caudate lobe HCC, adjuvant therapy combined with surgical operation should be considered.     

A case of polypoid carcinoma of the left hepatic duct

A case of polypoid carcinoma of the left hepatic duct in 50-year-old male was reported. Extended left hepatic lobectomy with total caudate lobectomy and resection of the right hepatic duct were performed because the tumor involved the right hepatic duct and bile duct branches of caudate lobe, medial and lateral segment. Papillary growth of the tumor was diagnosed definitely by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) and computed tomography. The tumor infiltrated the liver parenchyma of medial segment and compressed the middle hepatic vein. These findings were revealed by selective middle hepatic venography preoperatively.     

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma coexistent with a hepatocellular carcinoma of common type: Report of a case

A case of small fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexistent with a HCC of common type is herein reported. A 56-year-old man was diagnosed as having multi-nodular type HCC with liver cirrhosis. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was slightly increased. The patient underwent a partial caudate lobectomy and lateral segmentectomy. Histologically, both resected tumors were small HCCs measuring less than 2 cm in diameter. One was a fibrolamellar type located in the caudate lobe, while the other was the common type in the lateral segment of the liver. Positive immunohistochemical staining for AFP was observed in the tumor cells of the HCC of common type but was not observed in the fibrolamellar HCC. We also reviewed previously reported cases of fibrolamellar HCC in Japan, and discussed the clinicopathologic implications of this disease.     

A case of intrahepatic cholesterol stone complicated with atrophy of the anterior superior ventral and anterior superior lateral subsegments (S8ab) of the liver]

A 61-year-old male patient with intrahepatic cholesterol stone is reported. Stones were detected in the anterior superior lateral subsegment (S8ab) of the right lobe with bile duct stenosis, the lateral anterior segment (S3) of the left lobe, and the left caudate lobe (S11). Partial hepatectomy including S8ab, S3 and S11 was performed to remove all stones. Atrophy of S8ab was diagnosed by CT, and PTP clarified the patency of the subsegmental portal vein (P8ab). This is a rare case with cholesterol intrahepatic stone with regional bile duct stenosis and subsegmental atrophy of S8ab of the liver.     

Radiofrequency ablation with hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe with severe liver dysfunction. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: HCC in the caudate lobe remains one of the most difficult locations where various treatments tend to pose problems regarding the optimal surgical approach. The technique of HALS has thus been proposed as a useful method for performing a safe RFA therapy. For this study, we assessed the feasibility and safety of RFA with HALS for the treatment of HCC in the caudate lobe with liver dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1999 and February 2005, 5 patients who suffered from HCC in the caudate lobe were indicated for RFA. The percutaneous puncture was difficult and all patients have severe liver dysfunction with viral chronic hepatitis. Therefore, RFA was assisted by an inserted hand through a minimal skin incision under laparoscopic inspection. An intraoperative endoscopic ultrasound examination was performed before RFA to determine the tumor region. The hand-assisted minimal dissection around the caudate lobe was required to detect tumor and avoid injuries of other tissues. RFA for HCC was performed using a cooled-tip (Radionics Inc, Burligton, MA) connected to a RF generator under the programmed cyclic impedance. RESULTS: The surgical procedures consisted of 5 RFA to tumors in the caudate lobe with HALS, which was performed safely, and a postoperative computed tomography scan revealed a sufficient ablation in all patients. There was no operative mortality but 1 patient had minor bile leakage, which was treated conservatively, and all patients recovered and thus were eventually discharged. One patient had local recurrence after 3 months, 3 patients had tumor recurrences in another segment after 6 months. At a mean follow-up 32.2 months, all patients were still alive. CONCLUSIONS: RFA with HALS is considered to be a safe and feasible technique for HCC in the caudate lobe with liver dysfunction.     

右侧入路联合反向染色法处理肝尾状叶肝癌破裂出血1例并文献复习

目的:探讨单纯经右侧入路联合反向染色法完整切除肝尾状叶肝癌破裂出血的安全性及可行性。方法:回顾性分析1例肝尾状叶肝癌伴破裂出血患者的临床资料并复习相关文献。结果:术前对患者的肝功能及肿瘤情况进行严密评估,排除手术禁忌证后,患者成功行右侧入路联合反向染色法(对肝右后叶染色区分尾状叶的右侧边界)完整切除肝尾状叶,术中未阻断入肝血流、出肝血流、下腔静脉,术后患者肝功能恢复良好。术后6个月复查,未见肿瘤复发。结论:单纯行右侧入路联合反向染色法完整切除肝尾状叶肿瘤破裂出血是安全可行的。     

A case of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma treated with laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy after minimally invasive hepatic surgery

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in which the patient repeatedly underwent minimally invasive hepatic procedures is reported. The patient was a 71-year-old man who underwent transthoracic microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) for initial HCC nodules in segment VIII and subsequent laparoscopic MCT for small intrahepatic recurrent nodules in the left hepatic lobe. At this writing, the patient was alive and well without tumor recurrence 29 months after the initial surgery. Minimally invasive hepatic surgery alleviates perihepatic adhesion and allows subsequent laparoscopic surgery in the case of intrahepatic HCC recurrence. Received: 15 September 1998/Accepted: 22 January 1999     

Skull metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma successfully treated by intraoperative photodynamic diagnosis using 5-aminolevulinic acid: case report

There have been no studies on photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in patients with metastatic skull tumors. Here, we present a case of skull metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) successfully treated by intraoperative PDD using 5-ALA. A 63-year-old man with HCC presented with a subcutaneous mass in the left occipital region. CT showed a hyperdensity mass and severe osteolytic change in the left side of the occipital bone. MRI revealed an extra-axial enhanced mass that compressed the left occipital lobe and enhancement was spreading to the adjacent subcutaneous soft tissue. In order to intraoperatively evaluate the extent of tumor invasion, PDD using 5-ALA was performed. Intraoperative PDD comfirmed that the tumor itself was highly fluorescent. Surgery was completed after comfirming the absence of residual fluorescence in the surgical field. The tumor was diagnosed HCC. Histopathological analysis confirmed that PDD accurately assessed the extent of tumor invasion. The patient was discharged home at 10 days after surgery. PDD using 5-ALA is convenient and inexpensive, and because adverse reactions are minimal, it may be useful in not only malignant glioma, but also other brain tumors.     

Preoperative cholangiography of the caudate lobe: Surgical anatomy and staging for biliary carcinoma

The biliary branches of the caudate lobe (B1) join the right hepatic duct, the left hepatic duct, the confluence of these ducts, and/or the right posterior segmental bile duct. Therefore, in the preoperative staging of biliary tract carcinoma it is important to delineate the anatomy of B1 and the extent of cancer spread into B1. Tube cholangiography through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or selective cholangiography by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy enables us to obtain fine images of B1. We have developed cholangiography in the cephalad anterior oblique position to visualize B1 more clearly and distinctly. Four separate types of biliary branches are identified in the caudate lobe: (1) A duct running from the cranial portion of the right caudate lobe along the inferior vena cava to the hepatic hilus (B1r); (2) a duct from the cranial portion of the left caudate lobe to the hepatic hilus (B1ls); (3) a duct from the left lateral part of the left caudate lobe to the hepatic hilus (B1li); and (4) a duct from the caudate process to the hepatic hilus (B1c). The findings of the root of B1 in resected patients with biliary tract carcinoma were classified into four groups: not stenotic, short segmental stenosis, long segmental stenosis, and poorly imaged. A study of 64 branches of B1 in 42 resected patients with biliary tract cancer revealed carcinoma invasion in or near the root of B1 in all patients with poorly imaged or long segmental stenosis of B1, and in 33% of those with short segmental stenosis of B1.     

Limited Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Caudate Lobe

The most appropriate approach to treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe has not yet been determined. A series of 197 patients who had undergone curative hepatic resection for HCC were analyzed. Fifteen patients had HCC in the caudate lobe: three in the Spiegel lobe (SP), three in the caudate process (CP), and nine in the paracaval portion (PC). Patients with HCCs in the SP and CP underwent partial hepatectomy. HCCs in the PC were approached in one of three ways: anterior approach and partial hepatectomy of the PC (Ant+PHx-PC), partial hepatectomy, or left lobectomy. Clinicopathologic variables, including the underlying liver disease, the mean tumor size, and the pathologic characteristics of HCC, did not differ between surgery of the caudate lobe and that of other segments. The overall survival was 88.9% at 3 years and 66.7% at 5 years after resection of HCC in the caudate lobe; the corresponding figures were 86.1% at 3 years and 68.6% at 5 years for the other segments. The recurrence-free survival rate was 51.9% at 3 years and 34.6% at 5 years for the caudate lobe, and it was 52.1% at 3 years and 32.8% at 5 years for the other segments. Clinicopathologic characteristics of HCCs originating in the caudate lobe were not different from those in the other segments. Limited resection of HCC in the caudate lobe confers a similar prognostic value as in other segments.     

肝外胆管癌的诊治

目的 总结肝外胆管癌的诊断及手术治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析1972年－1999年收治肝外胆管癌100例的临床资料,其中上、中、下及全段胆管癌分别为68,12,18及2例。结果 首发症状为上腹不适隐痛、腹胀、乏力,明显消瘦及进行性黄疸等。B超、CT或MRI是无损伤的诊断方法,若显示肝内胆管扩张或诊断肝外梗阻性黄疸,则应进一步行PCT（本组13例）或ERCP（本组42例）。根据肿瘤所在部位及肝门部胆管癌的分型,选择不同的手术方式：上段手术切除25例（36．8％）,其中Ⅰ型行胆管癌局部或“骨骼化”切除15例,Ⅱ型行胆管癌切除加尾叶切除9例,Ⅲb型行胆管癌切除加尾叶及左三叶切除1例;中段手术切除9例（75％）;下段行胰十二指肠切除14例（77．8％）。上、中段均行胆管空肠Roux-en-Y型吻合胆道重建术。本组总切除率为48％。有35例得到随访,5年生存率为58％。未切除者52例中有32例得到随访,均于1－1．5年死亡。结论 B超、CT及MRI是早期诊断肝外胆管癌的首选方法,必要时选用PTC或ERCP对进一步诊断更有价值。手术切除是治疗肝外胆管癌最有效的手段。     

Successful surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma invading into biliary tree.

A 41-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography showed a large mass in the right hepatic lobe and marked dilatation of the biliary tree in the left lateral segment of the liver. Angiography showed evidence of neovascularity. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography revealed complete obstruction of the common bile duct just below the bifurcation. The serum level of alpha-fetoprotein on admission was 1,080,000 ng/ml. These findings suggested to us a primary hepatocellular carcinoma invading the intrahepatic bile duct. Extended right lobectomy and hepaticojejunostomy for bile drainage was carried out. The patient is doing well 3 years after surgery. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invading to the portal vein is not so rare, but invasion into the bile duct is much less common. In 1947, Mallory described a single case of HCC invading the gallbladder and obstructing extrahepatic bile ducts. In 1975, Lin termed this HCC "Icteric type hepatoma". The incidence of such HCC in Japan was reported to be 1.9-9%. Obstructive jaundice is a clinical manifestation of the terminal stage in HCC. We describe here our treatment of a woman with HCC invading the common bile duct. Right extended lobectomy and reconstruction of hepaticojejunostomy were effective.     

Three pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from hepatocellular carcinoma

We describe a patient who underwent pulmonary resection three times for metastatic lung cancer from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 56-year-old man, who had a past history of right hepatic lobectomy for HCC, was referred to our department with an abnormal finding on chest computed tomography (CT). Chest CT showed three abnormal shadows, in the right upper lobe (S3b), right middle lobe (S5), and right lower lobe (S10), respectively, and there was no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. He underwent surgical resections (right upper lobectomy and partial resections) for the metastatic lung cancer from HCC. Subsequently, 12 and 16 months after the first pulmonary resection, metastatic lung cancer recurred, in right S6 and S9, respectively. Because there was no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence and because of the feasibility of curative resection, we performed partial pulmonary resections. He had no postoperative morbidity, and is alive with no evidence of disease 60 months after the first pulmonary resection. Twelve cases of repeat pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC have been reported in the literature, and the authors of these reports described that repeated pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC resulted in long-term survival. Repeat pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC can be an effective treatment for patients with such metastases.     

Spontaneous necrosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous regression of a malignant tumor is a rare phenomenon. So far, 13 cases of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been described in the English literature. We report a case of HCC, with spontaneous complete necrosis demonstrated by histological examination. METHODS: A 73-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of general fatigue. CT and US revealed a huge mass measuring 9.5 cm at the left lobe. Angiographies showed hypovascular tumor stains. The levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and PIVKA-2 on admission were high, at 55 ng/ml and 62,300 mAU/ml, respectively. We diagnosed hypovascular HCC and performed a left lobectomy on October 16, 2000. RESULTS: In the histological examination, no viable cells were found. The levels of AFP and PIVKA-2 had already decreased to 14 ng/ml and 1,420 mAU/ml, before laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Changes in tumor markers and histological findings reveal that this phenomenon occurred without specific treatment.     

Composite small cell and mucinous carcinoma originating from the intrahepatic bile duct: report of a case

The biliary tract is a very rare site for the occurrence of extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma. A 68-year-old Japanese female was being followed up for autoimmune hepatitis, and was referred to our hospital because segmental intrahepatic bile duct dilation was found on routine imaging studies, suggesting intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. She underwent left lobectomy of the liver and concomitant resection of the caudate lobe. Microscopic examination of the explanted liver showed a primary composite tumor comprising small cell and mucinous carcinomas that originated in the intrahepatic bile duct. Further immunohistochemical studies, including cytokeratin-19 and chromogranin-A staining, showed the two cellular components of the tumor to have similar characteristics. The amphicrine properties indicated that the tumor had a monoclonal origin but with biphenotypic differentiation, which was responsible for the histogenesis of this tumor.     

Curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with intrabile duct tumor growth mimicking hilar bile duct carcinoma

A 62-year-old Japanese male was admitted with obstructive jaundice and underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD). An initial diagnosis was made of hilar bile duct carcinoma, based on demonstrated irregular stenosis of the hilar hepatic bile ducts without obvious tumor within the liver and negative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed an irregular low density area around the hepatic hilum and the umbilical portion of the portal vein, suggesting carcinomatous invasion with blood flow disturbances. In contrast, intraoperative ultrasonography (US) raised the suspicion of an ill-defined lesion in Couinaud's segment 2 (segment 2) and intrabile duct tumor formation. A radical extended left and caudate lobectomy of the liver was successfully performed, with additional resection of extrahepatic bile duct and enbloc resection of regional lymph nodes. Unexpectedly, histological analysis of the resected specimen showed the final diagnosis to be hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of segment 2 with intrabile duct tumor growth. This case demonstrates that HCC with intrabile duct tumor growth toward the heptic hilum can mimic hilar bile duct carcinoma, when the tumor itself is equivocal on preoperative imaging and AFP is negative. In such cases, intraoperative US and guided biopsy may be of value for definitive diagnosis and selection of the optimal procedure.     

肝尾叶胆管结石的术中诊断与处理

目的 探讨肝尾叶胆管结石的术中诊断与手术处理方法。方法 回顾性总结19例尾叶胆管结石的诊疗经验。结果 全组均在术中明确诊断，右尾叶结石11例，左尾叶结石6例，双尾叶结石2例。合并左肝管结石2例，右肝管结石2例，左右肝管结石15例。10例合并尾叶胆管口狭窄者行尾叶胆管切开成形，肝胆管盆式Roux-en-Y吻合术；其余9例行左右肝管切开尾叶胆管取石，经胆总管T管或胆道气囊导管引流。无手术死亡，无并发症，术后15～18d经胆道造影，无结石残留，间歇夹管至术后21～28d后拔管。平均随访42．44（12～60）月，4例偶有腹痛，近远期疗效满意，无复发。结论 尾叶胆管结石术前易漏诊。术中诊查是发现尾叶胆管结石简便而有效的方法。充分显露、谨慎切开尾叶胆管口狭窄、取尽结石、通畅引流，是防止尾叶胆管结石残留的重要措施。     

Surgical strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma originating in the caudate lobe

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma originating in or mainly involving the caudate lobe (caudate HCC) is generally poor. We reviewed the clinicopathologic findings of patients who underwent liver resection of caudate HCC and correlated the outcome with the surgical strategy. METHODS: Records of 402 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups. One group consisted of 15 patients who underwent liver resection for caudate HCC. The other group included 387 patients with HCC in a site other than the caudate lobe. RESULTS: Anatomic resection of Couinaud segment I or IX (a partial caudate lobectomy), conforming to portal anatomy, was performed in 13 patients with caudate HCC, and segmentectomies of segments I and IX (a total caudate lobectomy) were performed in 2 patients with caudate HCC. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar in the caudate HCC group and HCC in other sites group, with no operative deaths in the caudate HCC group. Tumor-free survival and cumulative survival were similar in the 2 groups. However, among patients with caudate HCC, tumor-free and cumulative survival were lower in patients with than without microscopic portal venous involvement (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Partial caudate lobectomy (anatomic resection of segment I or IX) along the portal system is an appropriate procedure for caudate HCC, especially in patients with impaired liver function or a small HCC. Patients with caudate HCC who have microscopic portal venous involvement may require adjuvant therapy as early recurrence is likely.     

Rapid Progression of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Drainage of Large Cystic Lesions: Report of a Case

We report herein a case of cholangiocarcinoma with large cystic lesions. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated large cysts in segment IV and the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe, and a solid tumor in the anterior segment of the right lobe of the liver which was contiguous to the cyst in the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe. The large cysts were diagnostically misleading and a liver abscess was suspected. Thus, percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the cyst was performed. The fluid in the cyst was negative bacteriologically, but malignant cells were detected. A CT scan done 2 weeks after drainage of the cyst showed progression of the solid tumor with intrahepatic metastasis and replacement of the cystic lesions by the solid tumor. Following percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization, a right hepatic trisegmentectomy with caudate lobectomy was performed. Pathological examination confirmed cholangiocellular carcinoma. These results indicate that drainage of the cystic lesion induced the tumor progression in the liver. Therefore, the possibility of cholangiocarcinoma with a large cystic lesion should be borne in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of a cystic lesion in the liver, and appropriate surgical therapy should be carefully selected. Received: November 25, 1998 / Accepted: January 7, 2000