Alpha‐fetoprotein‐producing UrachaI Adenocarcinoma

A 45‐year old Japanese male with a history of macroscopic hematuria for more than 6 months presented multiple metastatic lesions in the lungs. Cystoscopic examination demonstrated a large tumor mass protruding from the dome of the urinary bladder. Ultrasonography and CT highlighted a solid and cystic urachal tumor continuous from the vesical dome to the navel. Serum levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were elevated to 17, 100 ng/ml and 17.7 ng/ml, respectively. He underwent palliative curettage of the vesical dome tumor twice, followed by chemotherapy with little effect. One year after admission, he died of progressive metastases to the lungs, left pleura, liver and brain. Final serum levels of AFP and CEA were 86, 200 ng/ml and 60.9 ng/ml, respectively. The tumor was histologically classified as adenocarcinoma with a medullary growth pattern. Both papillotubular and solid (hepatoid) components were observed. The cancer cells were rich in glycogen and were immunoreactive diffusely for AFP and focally for CEA. CA15–3, CA19–9, epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin were also positive. In addition, argyrophilic cancer cells with immunoreactivities of neuron‐specific enolase, chromogranin A and peptide YY were demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of AFP producing adenocarcinoma of urachal origin.