Malignant transformation of hepatocellular adenoma in a young female patient after ovulation induction fertility treatment: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign liver tumor usually affecting young women with a history of prolonged use of hormonal contraception. Although the majority is asymptomatic, a low proportion may have significant complications such as bleeding or malignancy. Despite responding to the hormonal stimulus, the desire for pregnancy in patients with small HCA is not contraindicated. However, through this work we demonstrate that intensive hormonal therapies such as those used in the treatment of infertility can trigger serious complications

CASE SUMMARY

A 33-year-old female with a 10-year history of oral contraceptive use was diagnosed with a hepatic tumor as an incidental finding in an abdominal ultrasound. The patient showed no symptoms and physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory functional tests were within normal limits and tests for serum tumor markers were negative. An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, showing a 30 mm × 29 mm focal lesion in segment VI of the liver compatible with HCA or Focal Nodular Hyperplasia with atypical behavior. After a total of six years of follow-up, the patient underwent ovulation induction treatment for infertility. On a following MRI, a suspected malignancy was warned and hence, surgery was decided. The surgical specimen revealed malignant transformation of HCA towards trabecular hepatocarcinoma with dedifferentiated areas. There was non-evidence of tumor recurrence after three years of clinical and imaging follow-up.

CONCLUSION

HCAs can be malignant regardless its size and low-risk appearance on MRI when an ovultation induction therapy is indicated.

Key Words: Hepatocellular adenoma, Malignant transformation, Focal liver lesion, Adenoma, Ovulation induction, Case report

Core tip: As far as we know, this is the first report of a case involving a young woman with a small hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) with a stable behavior in a 6-year follow-up, who developed imaging changes suggesting malignancy after performing ovulation induction treatment. The patient underwent surgery due to diagnostic uncertainty, and the pathology report confirmed its malignancy. Therefore, we conclude that HCAs can be malignant regardless its size and low-risk appearance on magnetic resonance imaging when a hormone therapy is indicated.

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign liver tumor that usually affects young women with a history of prolonged use of hormonal contraception[1,2]. Most patients are asymptomatic and diagnosis is made by incidental findings in ultrasonographic studies performed for another reason. A low proportion may have significant complications such as bleeding or malignancy[3]. Therefore, the cessation of hormonal contraception in patients with HCA considered small (less than 5 cm) is usually enough to keep them stable or to cause spontaneous regression[4].

The desire for pregnancy in patients with small HCA is not contraindicated[5]. However, through this work we demonstrate that intensive hormonal therapies such as those used in the treatment of infertility can trigger serious complications. As far as we know, this is the first report of a case involving a young woman with a small HCA with a stable behavior in a 6-year follow-up, that after performing ovulation induction fertility treatment (OIFT) to achieve pregnancy, developed imaging changes that suggested growth and atypical behavior. The patient was offered surgery due to diagnostic uncertainty, and the pathology report confirmed the malignant behavior of the lesion.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

The patient was asymptomatic.

History of past illness

The patient had no previous disease.

History of present illness

A 33-year-old female with a 10-year history of oral contraceptive use was diagnosed with an hepatic tumor as an incidental finding in an abdominal ultrasound (US). An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, showing a 30 mm × 29 mm focal lesion in segment VI of the liver, slightly hyperintense in T2 and isointense in T1 weighted sequences, with a central scar that showed enhancement in early arterial phase and retained contrast on delayed scans, compatible with HCA or Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) with atypical behavior (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Magnetic resonance imaging is showing a focal image with well-defined limits in segment VII of the liver, in contact with the inferior vena cava. A: It is slightly hypertensive in T2 with a central zone of a higher signal; B: Is hyperintense in diffusion-weighted image b800; C: Is iso-hyperintense in ADC; D: It is iso-hypointense in phase sequence; E: Has a signal drop in the out-of-phase sequence; F: After administration of the EV contrast, it does not enhance in the arterial phase; G: Is hypointense in the portal phase; H: Shows an apparent central scar in the late phase. These findings are compatible with hepatocellular adenoma or Focal Nodular Hyperplasia of atypical behavior.

After two years of follow-up, the patient presented an episode of upper quadrant abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Laboratory test were normal and a new MRI showed a slight reduction in the size of the nodular formation, measuring 26 mm × 18 mm, with a change in its characteristics. Currently showing a hypointense center in T2 and hyperintense appearance in T1, compatible with an intralesional hematic component. The presumptive diagnosis in this circumstance was a HCA with hemorrhagic changes inside (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Magnetic resonance imaging is showing a decreased size of the lesion in follow-up. A: Is hypointense in T2 with an edge of greater signal; B: Is iso-hyperintense in T1; C: It does not show definite evidence of enhancement after administration of the EV contrast in C: Arterial; D: Portal; E: Late phase. These findings could be related to a hepatocellular adenoma with intralesional hemorrhagic changes.

Because the patient refused to undergo surgery a conservative management was decided, agreeing a strict follow-up with serum tumor markers and color Doppler US alternating with MRI every six months. Since then, no changes in tumor chara-cteristics were observed for the following four years.

The patient later underwent hormonal treatment for infertility. The scheme used consisted in six doses of Clomiphene (50 miligrams/d) the first 6 d, recombinant FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) 150 IU and LH (luteinizing hormone) 75 IU per day for 10 d. Cetrorelix (0.25 IU) per day during 4 d (from day 6 to 10 from the initiation of the stimulus). Subsequently, HCG (10.000 IU) a single dose in day 11.

Physical examination

Physical examination was unremarkable.

Laboratory testing

Laboratory functional tests were within normal limits and tests for serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and alpha-fetoprotein were negative.

Imaging examination

In the last MRI (six months after ovulation induction therapy) the tumor increased in size (40 mm × 39 mm) and a new focal image of 31 mm × 26 mm in contact with its upper region was detected. Both lesions presented heterogeneous enhancement, slighter than the rest of the hepatic parenchyma that persisted in late phases. It showed restriction signs in diffusion-weighted image (DWI), probably because of higher cellularity (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Magnetic resonance imaging showing enlargement of the lesion in follow-up. A: It is hypointense in T1; B: Hyperintense in T2; C: Hyperintense in diffusion-weighted image (DWI) b800. D: It shows restriction in ADC; E: Has slight heterogeneous enhancement in arterial phase; F: Has more evident enhancement in portal phase; G: Also more enhancement in late phase. The increase in size and the presence of restriction in DWI is suggestive of malignant transformation.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Malignant transformation of HCA.

TREATMENT

Surgical treatment was decided. Through a laparotomy approach, the right liver was mobilized. Intraoperative US was performed, revealing two contiguous lesions in segments VI and VII of the liver in contact with the inferior vena cava (IVC). Segmentectomy of the mentioned segments was successfully carried out, with detachment from the IVC and en-block resection with the capsular vein and right adrenal gland that was in intimate contact with the tumor.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The surgery was carried out successfully. There were neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications, the clinical evolution was favorable and the patient was discharged at day five. The anatomopathological exam revealed a polylobulated tumor of 60 mm × 50 mm × 50 mm constituted by cells with abundant eosinophilic citoplasm, marked anisokaryosis, multinucleation, macronucleoli and frequent atypical mitosis. Extensive areas of intratumoral necrosis were also evident. Growth pattern was expansive and infiltrative and a tumor capsule with infiltration zones was evident. Vascular and lymphatic tumor embolisms coexisted within the lesion (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Hematoxilin and eosin. A: With 400×, tumor area with atypia and abundant mitotic figures can be noticed; B: With 100×, sector with extensive necrosis and the presence of a tumor capsule can be seen.

The hepatic parenchyma adjacent to the tumoral formation showed conserved lobular histo-architecture, and absence of steatosis and portal or peri-portal fibro-inflammatory processes. Masson’s Trichromic and Reticulin techniques demonstrated the absence of portal fibrosis and intralobular fibrosis in the hepatic parenchyma adjacent to the tumoral formation (Figure 5).

Figure 5 Masson trichrome and Reticulin staining in 400×. Trabecular organization of the tumor and para-trabecular fibrosis can be observed.

Regarding immunohistochemistry techniques, Beta-Catenine, Glypican-3, Cytokeratin 7 were negative; HSP-70, CD-68, and Glutamine-Synthetase were focally positive; CD34 revealed abundant vascular frames and non-triad vessels, and Ki-67 expression revealed areas with high prolifferation. The margins of surgical resection and Glisson’s capsule were free of tumor infiltration.

All the described characteristics suggested the malignant transformation of HCA towards trabecular hepatocarcinoma (HCC) with dedifferentiated areas. In three-year of clinical and imaging follow-up, the patient did not evidence tumor recurrence.

DISCUSSION

HCAs are rare monoclonal benign tumors of the liver with an estimated incidence of 3-4/100000 per year in Europe and North America[2,4]. Most HCAs are solitary and usually incidental findings in patients undergoing radiological work up for unrelated or non-specific symptoms[6]. They closely relate to the dose and duration of OCP use, as well as they tend to regress with the withdrawal of hormonal therapy, so its response to hormonal stimulation is questionless according to several studies[1,7,8]. Once they are diagnosed, discontinuing OCP is indicated in order to prevent potential major complications that can ocurr, like bleeding and/or malignant transformation.

Although its real incidence is not known, Deneve et al[9] reported in a multicenter analysis a 4% malignancy rate in HCA from resected specimens. With the remarkable find that the smallest lesion harboring malignancy was 8 cm. Most of the series that report malignant transformation are focused on HCA treated by resection, which could lead to an overestimation of the risk of malignant transformation[10]. van Aalten et al[11] reported in a systematic review a hemorrhage overall frequency of 27.2%, with an acute rupture and intraperitoneal bleeding in 17.5% of patients. Hemorrhage generally arose in the larger lesions (> 5 cm) but only resected cases were included in this work, so its true incidence is hard to know also.

Currently, a better knowledge about risk factors to develop complications - such as male sex, size greater than 5 cm and β-catenin-activated molecular subtype - has reflected improvements in the selection of patients that would benefit more from a radical treatment vs a conservative treatment[12,13]. In practice, both MRI and biopsy with IHQ are usefull in decision making to help classify HCAs in high or low risk of complications. However, performing a biopsy systematically is still controversial[6]. In the Ronot et al[14] study comparing the efficacy of MRI findings in the diagnosis of these lesions against a routine histological analysis, a 74.5% of agreement between both techniques was observed, with a likelihood ratio of subtype characterization by MRI higher than 20. Therefore, in our center we only perform biopsies when imaging studies are inconclusive. As for this case, we believe a biopsy should have been performed because surgical resection was not considered at the outset. Anyway, in the resected specimen we did not observe β-catenin-activated labeling or any other risk sign, so a categorical HCA biopsy would not have modified our decision of a conservative treatment.

In the past, the relation between an HCA growth ratio and hormonal stimulation in fertile females with these lesions caused them to be discouraged from pregnancy. Today, women with a low-risk HCA who accept the risk of complications related to potential growth during pregnancy could carry it forward without problems[15]. The indispensable condition is that to have a strict surveillance with abdominal US and serum markers. Noels et al[5] monitored twelve women with documented HCA during a total of 17 pregnancies. In 4 cases HCA’s grew during pregnancy, requiring a Caesarean section in 1 patient and radiofrequency ablation in 1 case. All pregnancies reported uneventful course with a successful maternal and fetal outcome. They conclude that if interventions on an HCA are required during pregnancy, they can be performed safely[5].

The patient of this case was a young woman without any children with a strong desire for pregnancy. Considering the patient’s wish and anxiety, the stable characteristics of her HCA, and the lack of evidence about OIFT effect on these lesions, in a multidisciplinary meeting the indication for OIFT has been covenanted.

The patient accepted the risks and the need for strict control. Fortunately and thanks to the rigorous surveillance, malignant transformation of the HCA was early detected and treated with surgery without evidence of recurrence in 3 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, HCAs can be malignant regardless its size and low-risk appearance on MRI when an OIFT is indicated. Therefore, all HCAs should be resected prior to any hormonal therapy given their unpredictable behavior against such stimulation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Tessa Huber and Patricio Rosas for their disinterested contributions.