A Case Report of Ectopic Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Originated in the Ligamentum Teres Hepatis

Tsunehiro Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Nakajima, Hiromichi Kanehiro, Yukio Aomatsu, Atsushi Yoshimura, Masayoshi Ueno, Saiho Ko, Tatsuya Kin, Kazuo Ohashi, Hiroshige Nakano

First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University

A 65-year-old man treated for hypertension was found to have a high serum level of AFP, and after several examinations he was diagnosed as having double cancers (IIc type gastric cancer in the antrum and hepatocellar carcinoma in the left lobe of the liver). On laparotomy, the left lobe of the liver showed atrophy but no tumor was detected in the liver. The ligamentum teres hepatis was enlarged and palpable as a hard mass which was 5 cm across in diameter. Left lobectomy of the liver including removal of the tumor of the ligamentum teres hepatis and distal gastrectomy were performed. Histopathological findings showed that the tumor had no connection with the liver itself and it was revealed to be hepatocelluar carcinoma originating from ectopic liver tissue exists in various organs such as gall bladder, suspensory ligaments of the liver, retroperitoneum, paccreas, spleen, omentum and intrathoracic space. However ectopic hepatocellar carcinoma is very rare; only four cases have been reported in Japan.

Key words
ectopic hepatocellular cartinoma, ligamentum teres hepatis, ectopic liver

Reprint requests
Tsunehiro Kobayashi First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University
840 Sijyoutyou, Kashihara City 634 JAPAN

Accepted
December 11, 1996

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