Su JS, Chen YT, Wang RC, Wu CY, Lee SW, Lee TY. Clinicopathological characteristics in the differential diagnosis of hepatoid adenocarcinoma: A literature review. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19(3): 321-327 [PMID: 23372352 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i3.321]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Teng-Yu Lee, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, Section 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan. tylee@vghtc.gov.tw
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2013; 19(3): 321-327 Published online Jan 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i3.321
Clinicopathological characteristics in the differential diagnosis of hepatoid adenocarcinoma: A literature review
Jiann-Sheng Su, Yu-Tso Chen, Ren-Ching Wang, Chun-Ying Wu, Shou-Wu Lee, Teng-Yu Lee
Jiann-Sheng Su, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung 433, Taiwan
Yu-Tso Chen, Chun-Ying Wu, Shou-Wu Lee, Teng-Yu Lee, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
Ren-Ching Wang, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
Chun-Ying Wu, Teng-Yu Lee, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
Shou-Wu Lee, Teng-Yu Lee, Department of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Author contributions: Su JS, Chen YT and Lee TY designed this study; Su JS and Chen YT collected data; Wu CY and Lee SW provided executive support for this work; Su JS, Chen YT, Wang RC and Lee TY wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Teng-Yu Lee, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, Section 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan. tylee@vghtc.gov.tw
Telephone: +886-4-23592525 Fax: +886-4-23741331
Received: May 7, 2012 Revised: July 16, 2012 Accepted: August 14, 2012 Published online: January 21, 2013
Abstract
Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare but important special type of extrahepatic adenocarcinoma with clinicopathological presentation mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and prompt and correct diagnosis can be a challenge, especially in endemic areas with a high incidence of HCC. To date, HAC has only been reported in case series or single case reports, so we aimed to review the clinicopathological characteristics of HAC to obtain a more complete picture of this rare form of extrahepatic adenocarcinoma. All the articles about HAC published from 2001 to 2011 were reviewed, and clinicopathological findings were extracted for analysis. A late middle-aged male with high serum α-fetoprotein and atypical image finding of HCC should raise the suspicion of HAC, and characteristic pathological immunohistochemical stains can help with the differential diagnosis. Novel immunohistochemical markers may be useful to clearly differentiate HAC from HCC. Once metastatic HAC is diagnosed, the primary tumor origin should be identified for adequate treatment. The majority of HAC originates from the stomach, so panendoscopy should be arranged first.
