An Unusual Case of Hepatic Tumor in an Elderly Patient

Abstract

Malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare hepatic tumor of vascular origin. It is most commonly found in young to middle-aged women, and the tumors vary in their reported potential for malignancy. The etiologic factors are not yet clear, and some investigators have suggested an association with oral contraceptives, whereas others have noted an association with exposure to vinyl chloride, asbestos, thorotrast, major trauma to the liver, viral hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and alcohol consumption. The clinical manifestations are nonspecific, and most are asymptomatic. Among symptomatic patients, the most common symptom is right upper quadrant pain, followed by jaundice, weight loss, fatigue, ascites, hepatomegaly, and fever. The only definitive diagnosis requires immunohistochemical evidence of endothelial differentiation, which is demonstrated by the presence of factor VIII-related antigen and cytokeratins. As with most mesenchymal tumors, surgical resection is the most effective means of controlling local disease and preventing distant metastasis, although adjuvant therapies have been offered for patients with unresectable tumors or who are not transplant candidates. We present the case of an elderly man with a hepatic malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and we reviewed the English-language literature.

Keywords

• epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
• factor VIII-related antigen
• liver neoplasms
• liver transplantation
• surgery