Premium
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver: report of a rare case and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Arakawa Yusuke,
Shimada Mitsuo,
Ikegami Toru,
Kubo Takayuki,
Imura Satoru,
Morine Yuji,
Kanemura Hirofumi,
Mori Hiroki
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2008.00335.x
Subject(s) - mucoepidermoid carcinoma , medicine , malignancy , pathology , autopsy , carcinoma , metastasis , biopsy , radiology , cancer
Although a mucoepidermoid carcinoma is sometimes seen as a neoplasm originating from the salivary glands, its origination from the liver is rare. A review of the medical literature in the English language disclosed only 16 cases originating from the hepatic system. The case explored here is that of an 81‐year‐old female, without any significant medical history, who was referred to our hospital for elevated liver function tests. Computed tomography (CT) showed a huge tumor, 10 cm in diameter, in the right lobe of the liver. The central part of the tumor was consistently un‐enhanced, suggesting a large necrotic area. The liver tumor was diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma by a percutaneous biopsy. Despite chemotherapy with radiation therapy, the tumor showed very aggressive malignancy, resulting in early mortality. We herein report on a rare case of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver with pulmonary and lymph node metastasis, confirmed by autopsy, and review the literature.