Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas combined with serous cystadenoma: a case report and review of the literature

Case report and literature analysis: pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma with multiple lymph node metastases progressing to liver metastasis after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Hepatoid carcinoma is an extrahepatic primary tumor displaying characteristics reminiscent of hepatocellular carcinoma differentiation, which is found in various organs, such as the stomach, ovaries, gallbladder, and pancreas. Reports of pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma remain scarce. Consequently, understanding of this disease remains a priority, with no established consensus on its diagnosis and management. Here, we reported the case of a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with hepatoid carcinoma located in the pancreatic head, accompanied by multiple lymph node metastases. Following pancreaticoduodenectomy, the patient developed liver metastases within 3 months. Subsequently, she underwent adjuvant therapy consisting of Teysuno and Durvalumab following microwave ablation for the liver metastases. Remarkably, the patient has survived for one year without significant disease progression. This case underscores the potential efficacy of immunotherapy as a promising treatment option for pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to explore the optimal management strategies for this rare and challenging malignancy.

A pancreatic adenocarcinoma mimicking hepatoid carcinoma of uncertain histogenesis: A case report and literature review

In rare cases, metastatic adenocarcinomas of different origin may exhibit the features of hepatoid carcinoma (HC), a rare malignant epithelial tumor, most commonly occurring in the ovaries and stomach, as well as in the pancreas and biliary ducts. A case of a 72-year-old female patient who developed a highly aggressive, poorly differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis, demonstrating hepatoid differentiation upon conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining is reported in the present study. The patient presented with severe abdominal pain, and the radiological investigations performed revealed ovarian and hepatic tumor masses and peritoneal lesions, which were surgically removed. The gross examination of the peritoneum and omentum revealed multiple solid, firm, grey-white nodules, diffusely infiltrating the adipose tissue. The microscopic examination revealed a malignant epithelial proliferation, composed of polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and irregular, pleomorphic nuclei. Certain cells presented with intracytoplasmic mucus inclusions, raising suspicion of a HC with an uncertain histogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed, and the tumor cells were found to be positive for cytokeratin (CK)7, CK18 and mucin 5AC, whereas negative staining for CK20, caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2, α-fetoprotein, paired box gene 8, GATA-binding protein 3 and Wilms tumor 1 were documented. Thus, the diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma was established. The main aim of the present study was to provide further knowledge concerning poorly differentiated metastatic adenocarcinoma resembling HC, emphasizing the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of these malignant lesions and raising awareness of the diagnostic difficulties that may arise, as well as the importance of the use immunohistochemistry in differentiating carcinomas of uncertain histogenesis.

Surgical Resection of Pancreatic Hepatoid Carcinoma Followed by Combined Transarterial Chemoembolization and Immunotherapy: A Case Report

Pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma (HC) is a heterogeneous tumor with high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, which display cytological and/or structural features of focal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For the low incidence and atypical clinical symptoms, it is possible to be diagnosed as pancreatic cancer before operation, and mainly depending on the pathological examination. To the best of our knowledge, surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the common treatment of pancreatic HC. However, the curative effect and prognosis is poor. We report a case of 44-year-old woman with pancreatic HC treated with PD-1 receptor inhibitor and transarterial chemoembolization, whose clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes are significantly improved after treatment.

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Hepatoid carcinoma (HC) is an extremely rare neoplasm that is morphologically similar to hepatocellular carcinoma. HC has been described in various organs; however, HC of the pancreas is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only 38 cases have been reported. We present a case of HC of the pancreas in a 36-year-old male patient.

CASE SUMMARY

A 36-year-old cachexic man with no significant past medical history was transferred to our hospital with a history of painless jaundice, elevated blood glucose and significant weight loss. Lab tests showed elevated serum transaminases, bilirubin and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen showed a diffusely enlarged pancreas, appearing “sausage-shaped”. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed upstream ductal dilation secondary to stricture of the main pancreatic duct and the common bile duct, which were not visible. Immunohistochemistry of biopsied tissue from a percutaneous pancreatic biopsy showed tumor cell positivity for HepPar1, polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen and CK19, suggestive of HC of the pancreas. The characteristics of 39 patients with HC of the pancreas were reviewed.

CONCLUSION

HC of the pancreas is more prevalent in males, and patients have a median age of 57 years. It is most commonly asymptomatic or presents as abdominal back pain, and the pancreatic tail is the most common location. At the time of diagnosis, liver metastasis is often present.

Pure pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma: a surgical case report and literature review

Background

Hepatoid carcinoma (HC) is an extra-hepatic neoplasm that shares the morphological and immunohistochemical features of hepatocellular carcinoma. Pancreatic HC exists as either pure or combined type. Pure pancreatic HC is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature to date. Because of the rarity of pure pancreatic HC, its clinical features including incidence, behavior, and prognosis remain unclear. We herein report the case of a 56-year-old man who developed pure pancreatic HC treated with surgical resection. We also include a review of the existing literature.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital after a pancreatic cyst was identified by abdominal ultrasonography on a comprehensive medical examination. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a cystic mass measuring 13 mm in size in the pancreatic head and a low-density mass measuring 16 mm in size in the pancreatic tail, which was partially enhanced on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in the pancreatic head and an early enhanced nodule measuring approximately 10 mm in size in the pancreatic tail. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the hypervascular tumor was performed. The hypervascular tumor was suspected to be a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm. Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed. Histology was identical to hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for hepatocyte paraffin 1, and a canalicular pattern was confirmed on the polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen staining. The patient was diagnosed with a moderately differentiated pancreatic HC. The patient was followed up without adjuvant chemotherapy, and there was no evidence of recurrence at 6 months post-operatively.

Conclusions

We present a case of moderately differentiated pure pancreatic HC. For the accurate preoperative diagnosis of pure pancreatic HC, biopsy is preferred to cytology or preoperative imaging studies such as CT. The prognosis of pure pancreatic HC depends on its differentiation.

A hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreatic head

Hepatoid carcinoma (HC) is an extremely rare form of neoplasm. Its cellular structure resembles that of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, only 26 cases of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas have been reported in the literature. We report the diagnosis of a hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreatic head in a 78-year-old male patient. The tumor was detected incidentally during routine abdominal ultrasound scanning. Laboratory tests did not show any abnormalities except for a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. After CT, MRI, and laparoscopic biopsy that failed to obtain the diagnosis, the patient underwent a Whipple procedure. The final pathology report described a hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreatic head (pathological T3, N0 (0/10), L0, V0, R0, M0). After the patient recovered, no further therapy was recommended by the tumor board and he was discharged. Regular follow-up was suggested; however, the patient suddenly died of acute coronary artery disease 2 months after surgery.