LIVER-CELL ADENOMA IN A YOUNG MAN WITH ELEVATED SERUM PIVKA-II LEVEL

A 21-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of a liver mass lesion detected by abdominal ultrasonography. He had received no horm onal treatment. Physical examinations revealed no abnormalities, and l aboratory data, including hepatic function test re suits, were within normal ranges, with the exception of elevated levels of serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist (PIVKA)-II (2.2AU/ml). Abdo minal ultrasonography revealed a hyperechoic mass lesion measuring 10 x 10 cm, with hypoechoic areas located in the right posterior segment of the liver. A low-density area and a hypervascular area were detecte d in the right posterior segment of the liver by computed tomography a nd celiac angiography, respectively. As hepatocellular carcinoma could not be completely excluded, the tumor was resected. The tissue consis ted of sheets of tumor cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuc lei showing a thin trabecular pattern, and these histological findings indicated liver cell adenoma. After resection of the tumor, serum PIV KA-II returned to the normal level.