Abstract
The development of a well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with a diameter of 20 mm or larger is considered rare. Herein, we report a case of a well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma 70 mm in diameter with no dedifferentiation observed throughout the entire tumor on histopathololy. The subject was a male in his 50s who was diagnosed with hepatic hemangioma in August 2004. The 30-mm hepatic tumor developed into a 70-mm tumor by February 2006. Thus, the patient was referred to our hospital. Abdominal ultrosonography showed hypoechoic margin ; the interior of the tumor was comparatively isoechoic. Abdominal CT scan and angiography showed a densely-stained tumor margin and an arterial-predominant phase of the hypervascular tumor. Since a classical hepatocellular carcinoma was suspected, resection of the right hepatic lobe was performed. On histopathological examination, no dedifferentiation was observed throughout the entire tumor ; it was thus diagnosed as a well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. To date, 3.5 years after the surgery no recurrences have been noted.
