PRIMARY HEPATIC CARCINOID-TUMOR

A case of primary carcinoid tumor arising in the liver of a 69 year ol d woman with no endocrine symptoms is reported. Histopathologically, t he tumor was diagnosed initially as a hepatocellular carcinoma in the biopsy specimen, and was shown subsequently to be a carcinoid tumor, d emonstrating diffuse positive staining with Grimelius method. Mucin st ained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian-blue, and mucicarmine, a nd was shown partially in the glandular structures. Immunohistochemica lly, most of the tumor cells stained positively for chromogranin-A, ep ithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and neuron specific enolase (NSE). Ult rastructural examination revealed electron-dense core granules, measur ing 40-120nm in diameter in some of the tumor cells. Intensive and car eful searches pre- and post-operatively revealed no other primary sour ce of tumor other than the liver. The patient was reported well with n o symptoms 3 1/2 years after the operation. This case is considered to be a primary hepatic carcinoid tumor. The recent literature is review ed, and the possible histogenesis of hepatic carcinoid tumor is discus sed.