1984 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 40-44
Biliary cystadenocarcinoma is such a rare tumor that only about 30 cases have been reported in the literature.
We report a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma apparently originating in the left lobe of the liver. The patient was a 65-year-old woman diagnosed as having a biliary cystadenocarcinoma by aspiration biopsy, echogram and C. T. Aspiration biopsy guided by echogram provided a reliable differential diagnosis from the cyst in the liver. The tumor tissue showed positive reactions to alkalinephosphatase, carcinoembryonic antigen and alphafetoprotein.
An exploratory laparotomy revealed extensive intrahepatic melastasis. The patient died after surgery. At autopsy, the liver weighed 1, 500g. Multiple cysts ranging from thumb to first-sized, were observed on cut surfaces. Cysts were filled with mucinous material. There were also white and solid foci. The tumor was characterized by papillary cystoadenocarcinoma with transitional picture between the frank carcinoma and benign biliary cystepithelium. Such a transitional picture suggests malignant transformation of biliary cysts.
