Unusual Primary Neoplasms of the Adult Liver: Review of Imaging Appearances and Differential Diagnosis

Case report: Malignant epithelioid angiosarcoma in a Chinese female patient

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are mesenchymal tumors that exhibit characteristic epithelioid or spindle cell morphology and typically grow around blood vessels. These tumors are characterized by the expression of melanocytic and smooth muscle markers, such as HMB-45, Melan-A, and smooth muscle actin, indicating a dual differentiation phenotype. PEComas are extremely rare diseases, and patients typically have a very poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of malignant cutaneous PEComa with pulmonary metastasis in a Chinese female and review relevant literature. The patient underwent surgical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the left upper arm under general anesthesia, and the subsequent pathological findings suggested a tumor with perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation (PEComa). The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection, along with monitoring through computed tomography (CT) scans. Three months later, pulmonary metastasis was detected, but both the cutaneous PEComa in the left upper limb and the pulmonary metastatic lesions were stably controlled under active management and treatment. This is a rare case worth reporting and studying, and therefore, we conducted a long-term follow-up, and we hope to provide help for the clinical treatment of PEComa.

Imaging of Hepatobiliary Cancer

The liver and biliary tree are common sites of primary and secondary malignancies. MRI followed by CT is the mainstay for the imaging characterization of these malignancies with the dynamically acquired contrast enhanced phases being the most important for diagnosis. The liver imaging reporting and data system classification provides a useful framework for reporting lesions in patents with underlying cirrhosis or who are at high risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection of metastases is improved with the use of liver specific MRI contrast agents and diffusion weighted sequences. Aside from hepatocellular carcinoma, which is often diagnosed noninvasively, other primary hepatobiliary tumors may require biopsy for definite diagnosis, especially when presenting with nonclassic imaging findings. In this review, we examine the imaging findings of common and less common hepatobiliary tumors.

Primary hepatopancreatobiliary lymphoma: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management

Primary hepatopancreatobiliary lymphoma (PHPBL) is extremely rare, which is defined as a lympho-proliferative disease confined to the hepatobiliary system and pancreas without any involvement of lymph nodes, bone marrow, or other organs. The clinical and imaging manifestations of PHPBL are variable and non-special, which are akin to those of tumors of the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems. The overall prognosis and management of PHPBL differ from those of other tumors in the hepatobiliary system and pancreas. Proper diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential for improving clinical outcomes. Due to its rarity, the optimal treatment has not been issued. However, combination chemotherapy is considered as a standard treatment for them. This review provides an overview of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, pathology, and management of PHPBL and offers clinicians the diagnosis and management schedule for PHPBL.