A CASE OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA ARISING FROM AN ECTOPIC LIVER

Abstract

A relatively rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma orignating from an ectopic liver is reported. A 68-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of an abnormal abdominal mass. Blood tests revealed high serum level of α-fetoprotein, CA19-9 and Dupan-2. HCV antibody was positive. Though CT, MRI, angiography and ERCP were performed, only the CT suggested that an abdominal tumor had arisen due to ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma. Upon operation the tumor was found to be attached to the liver by only connective tissue. The tumor was so closely adhered to branches of the celiac artery that we had difficulty to separate it from the arteries. The tumor was removed, however the patient died of excessive blood loss during the surgery. Pathologically it was moderately to poorly differenciated hepatocellular carcinoma which appeared to have arisen from an ectopic liver. We should entertain a possibility of hepatocellular carcinoma arising in an ectopic liver, like this case, if an abdominal tumor is associated with a high serum level of α-fetoprotein and positive HCV antibody.