Cystic tumors of the liver:A practical approach

Biliary cyst tumors(cystadenoma and cystadeno-carcinoma) are an indication for liver resection. They account for only 5% of all solitary cystic lesions of the liver,but differential diagnosis with multiloculated or complicated biliary cysts,atypical hemangiomas,hamartomas and lymphangiomas may be difficult. The most frequent challenge is to differentiate biliary cyst tumors from hemorrhagic cysts. Computerized tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are often not diagnostic and in these cases fine needle aspiration(FNA) is used to confirm the presence of atypical biliary cells. FNA,however,lacks adequate sensitivity and specificity and should always be used in conjunction with imaging. Pre-operative differentiation of cystadenoma from cystadenocarcinoma is impossible and surgery must be performed if a biliary cyst tumor is suspected. When multiple cystic lesions are observed throughout the liver parenchyma,it is important to exclude liver metastasis,of which colonic cancer is the most common primary site. Multiple biliary hamartomas(von Meyenburg complex) can appear as a mixture of solid and cystic lesions and can be confused with cystic metastasis. Strong and uniform T2 hyperintensity on MRI is usually diagnostic,but occasionally a percutaneous biopsy may be required.

A special recurrent pattern in small hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment:Bile duct tumor thrombus formation

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathologic features of bile duct tumor thrombus(BDTT) occurrence after treatment of primary small hepatocellular carcinoma(sHCC) .METHODS:A total of 423 patients with primary sHCC admitted to our hospital underwent surgical resection or local ablation.During follow-up,only six patients were hospitalized due to obstructive jaundice,which occurred 5-76 mo after initial treatment.The clinicopathologic features of these six patients were reviewed.RESULTS:Six patients underwent hepatic resection(n=5) or radio-frequency ablation(n=1) due to primary sHCC.Five cases had an R1 resection margin,and one case had an ablative margin less than 5.0 mm.No vascular infiltration,microsatellites or bile duct/canaliculus affection was noted in the initial resected specimens.During the follow-up,imaging studies revealed a macroscopic BDTT extending to the common bile duct in all six patients.Four patients had a concomitant intrahepatic recurrent tumor.Surgical re-resection of intrahepatic recurrent tumors and removal of BDTTs(n=4) ,BDTT removal through choledochotomy(n= 1) ,and conservative treatment(n=1) was performed.Microscopic portal vein invasion was noted in three of the four resected specimens.All six patients died,with a mean survival of 11 mo after BDTT removal or conservative treatment.CONCLUSION:BDTT occurrence is a rare,special recurrent pattern of primary sHCC.Patients with BDTTs extending to the common bile duct usually have an unfavorable prognosis even following aggressive surgery.Insufficient resection or ablative margins against primary sHCC may be a risk factor for BDTT development.