Embryonal Sarcoma Of The Liver: A Case Report
U Devi, S Digumarthy, N Peri, J Reddy, Bheerappa, C Sundaram
Citation
U Devi, S Digumarthy, N Peri, J Reddy, Bheerappa, C Sundaram. Embryonal Sarcoma Of The Liver: A Case Report. The Internet Journal of Pathology. 2002 Volume 2 Number 2.
Abstract
Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver is a rare primary malignant tumor of the liver occurring almost exclusively in childhood with characterisitic discordant findings on Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography. We report a case of hepatic embryonal sarcoma in a seven-year old male child.
Introduction
Undifferentiated Embryonal sarcoma (UES) of the liver is a rare malignancy that is found in children and young adults. We present here a case of primary hepatic UES in a young child.
Case Report
A seven-year-old male child presented with abdominal distension and pain since one month. He also had low-grade fever and loss of appetite. Clinical examination revealed a large mass in the abdomen. Abdominal sonography revealed a large mixed echogenic mass lesion in the peritoneal cavity and another small mass in the right lobe segments V and VI. The continuity of the liver lesion with intraperitoneal mass could not be clearly made out. There was minimal free fluid. Color Doppler showed minimal vascularity. Contrast-enhanced Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large (18x14x15cm) intraperitoneal hypodense lesion in the subhepatic region with faint heterogenous enhancement. Large non-enhancing hypodense areas were noted within suggestive of cystic degeneration; there was no calcification in the lesion. The plane of cleavage between the lesion and liver was obliterated. There was mass effect with displacement of adjacent structures. Serum Alpha Fetoprotein level was normal. The patient was operated and peroperatively there was a large multilobulated vascular exophytic mass arising from the inferior surface of the right lobe of the liver involving segments V, VI and VII. Excision of the mass along with partial hepatectomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was Undifferentiated Embryonal Sarcoma of the liver.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Discussion
Undifferentiated Embryonal sarcoma known in the past as malignant mesenchymoma is a rare malignant hepatic tumor. It occurs predominantly in older children aged 6-10 years [1]. However, a few cases were reported in adults also. [2,3] UES is the fourth most common pediatric malignant hepatic tumor following hepatoblastoma, infantile haemangioendothelioma and hepatocellular carcinoma. [4] It represents about 9%-15% of all hepatic tumors in children. Less than 100 cases have been reported. [5]
Patients present with abdominal pain and mass with fever, weight loss, jaundice or other gastrointestinal complaints. Interestingly, serum AFP is not elevated.
Buetow et al reviewed the pathologic and radiologic findings in 28 cases of UES. [6] Pathologically, the tumor is usually a large, solitary mass predominantly solid (about 83% of the volume of a tumor) with the rest of it being cystic filled with serosanguineous fluid. On ultrasonography, the lesion appears predominantly solid (iso-hyperechoic to liver parenchyma) with few cystic areas due to cystic degeneration or hemorrhage. On CT, it appears predominantly hypodense, of water attenuation; areas of intermediate and soft tissue attenuation are noted in the periphery of the lesion due to solid component; foci of hemorrhage appear hyperdense; occasionally fluid-debris levels are also noted. Delayed CECT images are useful in revealing the solid nature and areas of the tumor as foci of contrast enhancement. On MRI, the lesion is predominantly of CSF signal intensity; areas of cystic degeneration appear hypointense on T1 weighted images and hyperintense on T2 weighted images; there can be hyperintense foci on T1W images due to hemorrhage; inhomogeneous enhancement of the thick peripheral zone can occur due to the solid portion of the tumor [4]. This discrepancy in the appearance on Ultrasonography (predominantly solid) and CT/MRI (predominantly fluid is considered to be due to the increased water content in the abundant myxoid stroma of the tumor. It is also noted in myxoid tumors occurring in other organs of the body. It is very essential to consider UES in the differential diagnosis of a lesion with discordant findings on USG and CT to avoid inappropriate aspiration of the lesion. Occasionally, the lesion can be predominantly cystic on USG and can be mistaken for a hydatid cyst. [5]
Interestingly, on angiography, UES can be a hypovascular or avascular mass; neoplastic vascularity in the form of macroaneurysm, arteriovenous shunting, pooling of contrast material and vascular encasement can be found in the solid portion of the tumor. Macroaneurysms are characteristic of UES.[4]
The treatment of choice is complete resection with pre- or post-operative multidrug chemotherapy. Pre-operative chemotherapy is proven to reduce the size of the tumor with necrosis and fibrosis of the solid portions and foci of dystrophic calcification. [7] However, the prognosis is poor due to the advanced nature of the disease at the time of presentation, the median survival being less than a year following surgery.
Correspondence to
Dr. Uma Devi.M, MD, DNB 12-11-1403, Boudhanagar, Warasiguda Secunderabad Andhra Pradesh - 500 061 India Tel. Ph: 040-7074822; E-mail: bkssastry@hotmail.com