Case Report
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2006; 12(11): 1805-1809
Published online Mar 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i11.1805
Living-related liver transplantation for multiple liver metastases from rectal carcinoid tumor: A case report
Yoshimi Nakajima, Hitoshi Takagi, Naondo Sohara, Ken Sato, Satoru Kakizaki, Kenichi Nomoto, Hideki Suzuki, Taketoshi Suehiro, Tatsuo Shimura, Takayuki Asao, Hiroyuki Kuwano, Masatomo Mori, Ken Nishikura
Yoshimi Nakajima, Hitoshi Takagi, Naondo Sohara, Ken Sato, Satoru Kakizaki, Masatomo Mori, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Kenichi Nomoto, Hideki Suzuki, Taketoshi Suehiro, Tatsuo Shimura, Takayuki Asao, Hiroyuki Kuwano, Department of Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Ken Nishikura, Division of Molecular and Functional Pathology, Department of Cellular Function, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
Correspondence to: Hitoshi Takagi, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. htakagi@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-27-2208127 Fax: +81-27-2208136
Received: May 11, 2005
Revised: May 25, 2005
Accepted: July 15, 2005
Published online: March 21, 2006
Abstract

A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of multiple liver tumors detected by ultrasono-graphy. Colonoscopy revealed submucosal tumor in the rectum, which was considered the primary lesion. Endoscopic mucosal resection followed by histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was carcinoid. The resected margin of the tumor was positive for malignant cells. Two courses to transcatheter arterial chemotherapy for liver metastasis were ineffective. Accordingly, the rectal tumor and metastatic lymph nodes were surgically resected. One month after the operation, she received liver transplantation (left lateral segment and caudate lobe) from her son. No recurrent lesion has been observed at two years after the liver transplantation. Liver transplantation should be considered as a treatment option even in advanced case of carcinoid metastasis to the liver. We also discuss the literature on liver transplantation for metastatic carcinoid tumor.

Keywords: Carcinoid, Liver metastasis, Living related liver transplantation