Primary hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma: A case report

Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) is a malignant tumor type of unclear pathogenesis, which rarely occurs in the liver. The present study reports the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with multiple masses in her liver, with no fever, abdominal pain or jaundice. Serological markers for hepatitis B and C virus were negative, as was the test for a fetoprotein. Abdominal enhanced magnetic resonance imaging examination confirmed multiple lesions in the liver, and liquefactive necrosis was observed. The patient underwent a right hepatectomy, in addition to a cholecystectomy. Cytokeratin 8 (CK8), cluster of differentiation 117, pancytokeratin and vimentin were positively detected using immunohistochemistry, and thus the diagnosis of primary hepatic SC (PHSC) was established. During the follow-up period, characteristic imaging manifestations of tumor recurrence were detected, including peripheral enhancement, central necrosis, variable enhancement, venous invasion and intrahepatic metastasis. The immunohistochemical detection of CK, epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin, with CK8 as a critical indicator, may be useful for the diagnosis of PHSC. The preferred treatment for PHSC is surgical resection and the prognosis is poor.