Aim: Patients with high serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA concentrations are at high risk of tumor recurrence after liver resection for HBV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Among 24 patients with high serum HBV DNA concentrations who underwent liver resection for HBV‐related HCC, postoperative lamivudine therapy was chosen by 14 (lamivudine group). The other 10 patients were controls. Results: Clinicopathologic findings did not differ between the groups. Tumor‐free survival rate after surgery was significantly higher in the lamivudine than the control group ( P = 0.0086). By univariate analysis, multiple tumors were also a risk factor for a short tumor‐free survival. By multivariate analysis, lack of lamivudine therapy and multiple tumors were independent risk factors for a short tumor‐free survival. In four patients YMDD mutant viruses were detected after beginning lamivudine administration; in two of them, adefovir dipivoxil was administered because of sustained serum alanine aminotransferase elevations. Conclusion: Lamivudine therapy improved tumor‐free survival rate after curative resection of HBV‐related HCC in patients with high serum concentrations of HBV DNA, although careful follow up proved necessary for the detection of YMDD mutant viruses.
Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma of the liver is relatively infrequent, and its pathogenesis remains obscure. The aim of this study is to investigate its clinical and pathological features and proliferative activity.In this study, we investigated the histopathological features, Ki-67 labeling index, and p53 immunohistochemistry of 18 surgically resected cases of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma among 1102 consecutive cases of surgically resected primary liver cancers. All tumors were compatible with the WHO definition of this tumor. Microscopically, we classified the cases into the following three categories according to the arrangement of the hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma components; (1) Type I in which hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma formed nodules that could easily be distinguished from each other, (2) Type II in which the both components were finely mixed, so that the two components were almost indistinguishable, and (3) Type III in which the tumors had lobular structures with hepatocellular carcinomas existing centrally and cholangiocarcinomas existing peripherally.Microscopically, the tumors were classified into type I 7 tumors, type II 5 tumors, and type III 6 tumors. In one case of type I, well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma demonstrated cholangiocarcinoma in "nodules-in-nodules" fashion. The average of Ki-67 labeling index of hepatocellular carcinoma component of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma was 4.4 +/- 3.4% and the index of cholangiocarcinoma component was 11.0 +/- 8.5%, which is significantly higher than that of the hepatocellular carcinoma component. On p53 immunohistochemistry, 5 of 18 cases (29.4%) were positive. In one case, the cholangiocarcinoma component was positive for p53, but the hepatocellular carcinoma component was negative. In the other 4 cases, both the hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma components were positive.Microscopically, type III seems to be a feature of metaplasia or proliferation of bipotential progenitor cells. Metaplasia of hepatocellular carcinoma to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is assumed to be one of the pathogenic pathways of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma.
A 72-old-year Japanese man was incidentally found to have out liver dysfunction on serum examination and a cystic tumor in the liver. Dynamic computed tomography revealed a solitary cystic tumor 14 cm in diameter with multiple septa. The cyst wall was occasionally irregular with hyperarterial inflow. After admission, he suffered from fever and right upper abdominal pain. We suspected cystadenocarcinoma with intraluminal infection. Percutaneous transhepatic drainage was performed. However, neither cytologic examination nor culture test was positive. The cystic tumor had been decreasing in size, and hepatic resection performed. Macroscopically, the tumor was a gray-yellow solid tumor with a fine boundary between tumor and liver parenchyma, and the cystic lesion collapsed. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of hepatic infarction, degenerated Glisson's sheath, and chronic inflammation, and chronic liver abscess was diagnosed. Most cases of bacterial liver abscess can be diagnosed because progression is accompanied by typical signs. However, it is difficult to diagnose liver abscess in the chronic phase because chronic liver abscesses exhibit various features on imaging series without typical signs or symptoms. When atypical liver cyst is found, the possibility of liver abscess in chronic phase should be considered.
Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) remains a major complication after distal pancreatectomy (DP). We aimed to investigate the predictors of clinically relevant PF (cPF) in the early phase after DP.