Detection and diagnosis of large well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas: Case report

Abstract

We treated a 51 year-old man following admission to our hospital for investigation of liver tumors. The patient had previously taken Lamivudine orally for liver cirrhosis type B. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) performed in October 2005 demonstrated 2 liver tumors, 6 and 3cm in diameter, in the 6th segment. However, tumor staining was not shown by angiography, while portal vein flow was detected in the liver tumors by CT-arterial portography. We diagnosed the tumors as well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from the results of a biopsy and performed surgical resection. Since it is reported that most well-differentiated HCCs are detected as small tumors under 2cm in size and rarely become greater than 3cm, the present case is unusual.