Imaging and pathological features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: An analysis of nine cases and review of the literature

  • Authors:
    • Zhu Chen
    • Hua‑En Xiao
    • Paudel Ramchandra
    • Hai‑Jiang Huang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 31, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.1844
  • Pages: 956-962
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Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the imaging features and pathological basis of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC). A retrospective analysis of the imaging and pathological features of nine PHNEC cases was carried out at The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (Changsha, China). The nine patients were subjected to dynamic contrast‑enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning of the liver and pathological diagnosis of the tissue samples. In addition, two patients were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT scanning revealed the presence of single or multiple masses in the liver with a maximum diameter of 1‑10 cm. These hepatic masses were of low density as showed by plain CT. These masses showed uneven or annular enhancement at their margins in the arterial phase. The venous portal phase showed consistent or declined enhancement and the delayed phase showed light enhancement in these masses. In addition, multiple intrahepatic nodules with long T1 and T2 signal intensities and obvious enhancement were observed by MRI in one patient, while intrahepatic lesions with moderate length T2 signal intensities and light enhancement not visible on the T1 image were observed in another patient. Pathological analysis revealed that the tumor cells exhibited morphological diversity. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were chromogranin A‑ and synaptophysin‑positive, and carcinoembryonic antigen‑, hepatocytic antigen‑ and α‑fetoprotein‑negative. Imaging methods, including CT and MRI, are useful for the diagnosis of PHNEC; however, pathological examination is required for a final, definite diagnosis.
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2014-April
Volume 7 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen Z, Xiao HE, Ramchandra P and Huang HJ: Imaging and pathological features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: An analysis of nine cases and review of the literature. Oncol Lett 7: 956-962, 2014.
APA
Chen, Z., Xiao, H., Ramchandra, P., & Huang, H. (2014). Imaging and pathological features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: An analysis of nine cases and review of the literature. Oncology Letters, 7, 956-962. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.1844
MLA
Chen, Z., Xiao, H., Ramchandra, P., Huang, H."Imaging and pathological features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: An analysis of nine cases and review of the literature". Oncology Letters 7.4 (2014): 956-962.
Chicago
Chen, Z., Xiao, H., Ramchandra, P., Huang, H."Imaging and pathological features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: An analysis of nine cases and review of the literature". Oncology Letters 7, no. 4 (2014): 956-962. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.1844