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Clinical features and outcomes of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas
Author(s) -
Park Chan Hyuk,
Chung Joo Won,
Jang Seon Jung,
Chung Moon Jae,
Bang Seungmin,
Park Seung Woo,
Song Si Young,
Chung Jae Bock,
Park Jeong Youp
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2012.07117.x
Subject(s) - medicine , neuroendocrine tumors , chemotherapy , neuroendocrine carcinoma , differential diagnosis , surgery , carcinoma , gastroenterology , radiology , pathology
Background and Aim: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (PHNECs) are extremely rare, with only about 150 cases having been reported in the English‐language literature. Because of the rarity of PHNECs, its clinical features and treatment outcomes are not well understood. Here, we report our experiences with PHNECs. Methods: We identified patients diagnosed with PHNEC and analyzed their demographics, baseline laboratory data, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes. Results: A total of 218 consecutive patients were identified with pathologically confirmed neuroendocrine carcinoma. Of these, 12 patients were diagnosed with PHNECs; the median age was 66.5 years (range, 37 to 80 years), and seven patients (58.3%) were male. Two patients who each had a single hepatic mass underwent curative surgical resection. One patient who was of inoperable status at the initial diagnosis because of multiple intrahepatic metastases showed a partial response after the ninth round of systemic chemotherapy and then underwent surgical resection. The median overall survival in the 12 patients was 16.5 months (range, 0.7 to 41.7 months). Three patients who underwent surgical treatment are alive without recurrence for 15.2 months, 18.0 months, and 36.9 months, respectively. Conclusions: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in the management of hepatic tumors. The liver can be the primary origin of neuroendocrine tumors, and if the tumors are diagnosed as primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumors, surgical resection must be considered for curative treatment.