Abstract
Background : Primary hepatic carcinoid tumors (PHCT) are extremely rare.
Case : A 40’s man seen for abdominal fullness was found in computed tomography (CT) to have showed a large hepatic tumor with a large cyst. Cytological examination of cyst fluid during surgery showed small round tumor cells with round nuclei forming a rosette shape.
Histological examination showed tumor cells to be positive for CD56, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, S-100, synaptophysin, and gastrin. Neuroendocrine granules were seen in tumor cell cytoplasm under an electron microscope. No carcinoid tumor was seen in organs during surgery or during the 20 months of postoperative observation, so we diagnosed the tumor as a PHCT.
Conclusion : PHCT is very rare, but should be suspected if a cystic hepatic tumor is found.
