Hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma is scattered and unsuitable for surgery: a case report

Unveiling the mystery of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma: A unique case report with literature review

Hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma is a rare mesenchymal liver tumor within the perivascular epithelioid cell tumor family, known for its uncertain malignancy and potential for aggressive behavior. Clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and imaging results lack specificity, making pathological examination critical for definitive diagnosis. This case report presents a 61-year-old male patient with a single tumor in the right liver lobe, measuring approximately 101 mm × 99 mm. Initial imaging misdiagnosed the mass as hepatocellular carcinoma. Following multidisciplinary treatment discussions and subsequent tumor resection, histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma. Accurate diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma is challenging, relying on histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry as diagnostic standards. Continuous monitoring of patients with hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma over an extended period is deemed essential. This report highlights the positive impact of multidisciplinary treatment in diagnosing and managing hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma.

Primary Liver Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa): Case Report and Literature Review

A primary liver perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is an extremely rare entity. In this article, we present a case report with a review of the literature on the patients diagnosed with primary liver PEComa and an elaboration of diagnostic and treatment modalities. A systematic literature search was conducted using the terms "perivascular epithelioid cell tumor", "PEComa", "liver", and "hepatic". All articles describing patients diagnosed with primary liver PEComa were included. We identified a total of 224 patients of primary liver PEComa from 75 articles and a case from the present study with a significant preponderance of females (ratio 4:1) and with a mean age of 45.3 ± 12.1 years. Most of the patients (114 out of 224, 50.9%) were asymptomatic. A total of 183 (81.3%) patients underwent surgical hepatic resection at the time of diagnosis, while 19 (8.4%) underwent surveillance. Recurrence and metastases were detected in seven (3.1%) and six (2.7%) patients, respectively. In conclusion, surgical resection remains the cornerstone of therapy; however, the presence of nonspecific imaging features makes it difficult to reach a definite diagnosis preoperatively. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach should be the gold standard in selecting the treatment modality.

Hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumor resembling hepatic adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma on preoperative imaging: a case report

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm, arises from specialized perivascular epithelioid cells exhibiting distinct features of smooth muscle and melanocytic differentiation with unpredictable behavior. PEComa tends to occur more commonly in the uterus and kidneys; its occurrence in the liver is exceedingly rare. We presented a case of a 29-year-old woman with hepatic PEComa and evaluated the tumor with MRI, integrated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT scans at presentation. The patient had a history of intermittent utilization of oral contraceptive drugs for several years. An abdominal ultrasound in a physical examination from an outside institution revealed a mass in the liver. A contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI revealed restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and rapid contrast enhancement and washout patterns in the hepatic lesion, suggesting hepatic adenoma (HA) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Further assessment was carried out using 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT scans. The hepatic lesion was non-FDG avid, whereas increased tracer uptake was observed on the 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. Subsequently, laparoscopic partial resection of liver segment V was performed. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated positive staining for HMB45, Melan-A, and SMA while showing negative results for AFP, glypican-3, hepatocyte, and arginase-1. The results were indicative of a hepatic PEComa diagnosis based on these findings. We also review the current literature on the clinical characteristics, pathological features, and challenges in the diagnosis of hepatic PEComa.

Hepatic Angiomyolipoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) is an uncommon primary liver tumor with limited reported cases in the literature. It is composed of varying amounts of fat, smooth muscle, and blood vessels, typically non-malignant proliferation. It usually presents diagnostic challenges due to diverse imaging characteristics. We present a case of a 50-year-old female with a small HAML causing mild abdominal pain. It displayed radiographic characteristics mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and subsequent diagnosis was established upon histopathological findings of liver biopsy. The patient was radiologically monitored, and then she underwent surgical resection later on because of the size increase. Follow-up showed no signs of recurrence at 3 months. This case highlights the importance of histologic diagnosis of HAML if there are suggestive imaging features, given the variety of differential diagnoses. Symptoms or tumor growth is to be considered as warning signs that should lead to surgical resection, which remains the primary treatment modality.