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Common and epithelioid variants of hepatic angiomyolipoma exhibit clonal growth and share a distinctive immunophenotype
Author(s) -
Flemming Peer,
Lehmann Ulrich,
Becker Thomas,
Klempnauer Jürgen,
Kreipe Hans
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1053/jhep.2000.9142
Subject(s) - histogenesis , biology , angiomyolipoma , pathology , immunophenotyping , epithelioid cell , immunohistochemistry , monoclonal , biopsy , monoclonal antibody , immunology , antibody , medicine , antigen , genetics , kidney
Angiomyolipoma represents a rare liver tumor of uncertain histogenesis that is commonly considered a hamartoma. A series of 12 hepatic angiomyolipomas, including 3 samples of the epithelioid subtype, was analyzed for clonality using the human androgen receptor gene locus (HUMARA). Four of 6 informative cases revealed monoclonality. The polyclonal pattern in the 2 remaining cases was most probably caused by excessive infiltration of inflammatory cells. Monoclonality with an identical X‐chromosomal inactivation pattern in all nodules was found in a multifocal recurrent tumor indicating a metastatic process. Despite the morphologic heterogeneity, all tumors displayed an identical immunohistochemical labeling pattern. It is concluded that different subtypes of hepatic angiomyolipoma exhibit a monoclonal and hence probably neoplastic growth and share an identical immunophenotype suitable for their identification even in small biopsy specimens. The epithelioid subtype may give rise to intrahepatic metastasis.