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Successful Resection in a Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Masquerading as Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report

  • Prakriti Gupta1,
  • Shashi Dhawan1,
  • Vivek Mangla*,2,
  • Siddharth Mehrotra2,
  • Shailendra Lalwani2,
  • Naimish N Mehta2 and
  • Samiran Nundy2
Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology   2018;6(4):442-446

doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2018.00038

Received:

Revised:

Accepted:

Published online:

 Author information

Citation: Gupta P, Dhawan S, Mangla V, Mehrotra S, Lalwani S, Mehta NN, et al. Successful Resection in a Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Masquerading as Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2018;6(4):442-446. doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2018.00038.

Abstract

Obstructive jaundice in the setting of a hilar mass raises strong suspicion of a cholangiocarcinoma, with diagnosis usually made on imaging. Jaundice, when present in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, is mostly related to underlying liver disease (i.e. cirrhosis) and only rarely to diffuse tumor infiltration of liver parenchyma or hilar invasion. We report here the good outcome of a 67 year-old patient who presented with obstructive jaundice, underwent surgery and was given a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, which was made only at histopathological examination of resected specimen.

Keywords

Obstructive jaundice, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma

Introduction

Obstructive jaundice in the setting of a hilar mass raises strong suspicion of a cholangiocarcinoma. The diagnosis is usually made on imaging, and cytology confirmation is usually not done for tumors amenable to surgical resection. Jaundice at the time of diagnosis is seen in a small proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is mostly related to underlying liver disease (i.e. cirrhosis) and only rarely to diffuse tumor infiltration of liver parenchyma or hilar invasion.1 There have been only a few and scattered reports in the literature of such presentations of HCC, with no available report of resection in such a patient to the best of our knowledge.2–11 We report herein the good outcome of an unusual case of HCC presenting as obstructive jaundice and diagnosed initially as hilar cholangiocarcinoma, which was treated with surgery.

Case report

A 67 year-old male (body mass index of 23.9 kg/m2) presented with jaundice associated with pruritus for 1 month. There was no history of abdominal pain or weight loss. There was no previous history of regular alcohol intake, jaundice, ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic illnesses or medication intake, surgery or hepatic encephalopathy. Liver function tests revealed a total bilirubin of 12.8 (normal range: 0.2–1) mg/dL, with elevated liver enzymes and normal serum albumin (Table 1). Prothrombin time and platelet counts were normal.

Table 1.

Demographics and laboratory parameters of the patient

ParameterValue
Age67 years
SexMale
Weight70 kg
Height171 cm
BMI23.9 kg/m2
Platelet count1.7 × 105/cubic mL
International normalized ratio (PT-INR)1.1
HBsAgNegative
Anti-HCVNegative
Bilirubin at first presentation, total/direct12.8/8.9 mg/dL
AST98 IU/L
ALT106 IU/L
Serum alkaline phosphatase360 IU/L
Gamma-glutamyltransferase100 IU/L
Serum albumin3.7 g/dL
Bilirubin just prior to surgery, total/direct3.9/2.6 mg/dL
CA19-91996 U/mL

Ultrasound of the abdomen revealed intrahepatic biliary radical dilatation with possibility of a mass present at the hepatic hilum. Computed tomography scan revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass lesion involving the left and common hepatic ducts, with encasement of left portal vein and left hepatic artery. There was significant hypertrophy of the right liver and atrophy of the left hemiliver. The right and main portal vein, and the right hepatic artery were free of tumor (Fig. 1). There was no evidence of ascites or splenomegaly. Carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9) was 1996 (normal range, 0–35) U/mL. Tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies were negative (Table 1). A provisional diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma was made.

Portal venous phase images showing dilatation of right-sided intrahepatic bile ducts (hollow white arrow), atrophy of left hemiliver and hypertrophy of right hemiliver (solid black arrow).
Fig. 1.  Portal venous phase images showing dilatation of right-sided intrahepatic bile ducts (hollow white arrow), atrophy of left hemiliver and hypertrophy of right hemiliver (solid black arrow).

(A) The arterial phase images show the mass lesion (solid white arrow) and free right hepatic artery (B).

In view of a planned major liver resection and significantly elevated serum bilirubin, preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was carried out to drain the right posterior sectoral duct. Following PTBD, the patient’s bilirubin decreased to 3.9 mg/dL over the next 15 days. At surgery, the computed tomography findings were confirmed. The liver was firm but there was no evidence of cirrhosis. There was also no evidence of dissemination. The right hepatic artery, right portal vein and main portal vein were free. The patient underwent extended left hepatectomy with excision of caudate lobe and extrahepatic biliary tree, with hepaticojejunostomy to the remnant bile duct (Figs. 2, 3). There was no evidence of tumor infiltration in the proximal or distal bile duct margins on frozen section analysis carried out intraoperatively.

Intraoperative photograph taken after complete resection shows the bile duct of the liver remnant with a feeding tube put through the PTBD tract (solid white arrow), main portal vein (A), and right hepatic artery (B).
Fig. 2.  Intraoperative photograph taken after complete resection shows the bile duct of the liver remnant with a feeding tube put through the PTBD tract (solid white arrow), main portal vein (A), and right hepatic artery (B).
Photograph of resected specimen showing the caudate lobe (A), distal bile duct (B) and right posterior sectoral duct margin (C).
Fig. 3.  Photograph of resected specimen showing the caudate lobe (A), distal bile duct (B) and right posterior sectoral duct margin (C).

Gross examination of the hepatectomy specimen revealed a slightly nodular surface. On serial slicing, there was an intraluminal mass of 2 × 1.5 cm in the common hepatic duct along with a diffusely infiltrating grey white tumor mass in the hilar region. A conglomeration of small tumor nodules was also seen in the subcapsular region, approximately 4 cm from the main tumor mass in the hilar region. On further slicing, the tumor was seen to infiltrate the intrahepatic biliary system, extending from the hilar to the subcapsular region (Fig. 4). On microscopic examination, there was an intraluminal mass found in the common hepatic duct with surface ulceration and necrosis, infiltrating the intrahepatic biliary ducts. The tumor cells were large polygonal, with eosinophilic cytoplasm and moderate nuclear atypia, arranged in cords, trabeculae and sheets. There was no evidence of vascular invasion. All the surgical margins were free of tumor (R0 resection). The surrounding liver parenchyma showed nodularity and portal fibrosis with focal bridging fibrosis (Fig. 5). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed strong and diffuse Hep par 1 positivity in the tumor cells in both the common hepatic duct mass and hepatic nodules. Glypican 3 was focally positive in both the tumor masses (Fig. 6). CK7 and MUC-1 were negative in the tumor cells. Based upon the morphology and IHC, a final diagnosis of HCC (TNM stage, pT2 pN0 pMx) with extensive infiltration of biliary system was made.

Gross examination findings included intraluminal mass in the common hepatic duct (A), subcapsular liver nodules (B), and intrahepatic bile ducts infiltrated by the tumor (C).
Fig. 4.  Gross examination findings included intraluminal mass in the common hepatic duct (A), subcapsular liver nodules (B), and intrahepatic bile ducts infiltrated by the tumor (C).
Microscopic examination findings.
Fig. 5.  Microscopic examination findings.

Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, showing: tumor infiltrating common hepatic duct wall (solid black arrow), HE 40X (A); tumor infiltration into the intrahepatic bile ducts (hollow arrows), HE 40X (B); polygonal tumor cells in a trabecular arrangement, HE 400X (C); and, bridging fibrosis (hollow arrows), HE 40X (D).

Immunohistochemistry showing a strong and diffuse cytoplasmic positivity with Hep Par 1 (A) and Glypican 3 (B), 200X.
Fig. 6.  Immunohistochemistry showing a strong and diffuse cytoplasmic positivity with Hep Par 1 (A) and Glypican 3 (B), 200X.

The tumor cells were negative for CK7 and MUC-1.

The postoperative course was marked by transient ascites, which improved with medical treatment. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 12. At 3 years follow-up, the patient was well, with normal liver function tests and no evidence of disease recurrence or liver decompensation.

Discussion

Obstructive jaundice in the setting of a hilar mass raises strong suspicion of cholangiocarcinoma. In patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, the diagnosis is usually made on imaging, and cytology confirmation is usually not mandatory for tumors amenable to surgical resection. Although there are imaging criteria which help differentiate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from HCC, no differentiating features have been reported on imaging for differentiating between hilar cholangiocarcinoma and HCC infiltrating the bile ducts.12 Tumor markers are also, often, of only limited help. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels are not elevated in a significant proportion of patients with HCC.13,14 CA19-9 is usually elevated in patients with cholangiocarcinoma but may be falsely elevated in certain situations (e.g., cholangitis, biliary obstruction, smokers, etc.). The diagnosis in previously reported cases of HCC masquerading as hilar cholangiocarcinoma was suspected on imaging, presence of elevated AFP levels, presence of coexisting viral infections (i.e. Hepatitis B or C) or nonimprovement of bilirubin despite PTBD (arousing the suspicion of underlying liver disease). The initial diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in our patient was based on computed tomography findings and an elevated CA19-9. AFP was not measured in our case, as the possibility of HCC was not considered.

HCC usually occurs on the background of a cirrhotic liver. Patients with underlying cirrhosis are usually not candidates for major liver resection and, probably, that is why most reported cases in the literature were deemed unresectable.15 However, we feel that surgical resection can be considered in patients who are good candidates for surgery (i.e. those with preserved liver functions, good performance status, and resectable tumors with adequate future liver remnant). The overall survival of patients with HCC with obstructive jaundice is much better than those with jaundice due to hepatic insufficiency, for obvious reasons.16

IHC has an important role in differentiating between HCC, cholangiocarcinoma and mixed HCC-cholangiocarcinoma. Tumor cells in cholangiocarcinoma are typically positive for CK7 and MUC1 and negative for Hep par 1 and Glypican 3. Most cases of HCC will have tumor cell positivity for Hep par 1 and Glypican 3 and would be negative for CK7 and MUC1. The final diagnosis of HCC was confirmed on IHC in our patient. The mixed HCC and cholangiocarcinoma would have tumor cells expressing markers for both HCC and cholangiocarcinoma.

The present case had a normal platelet count and prothrombin time, no evidence of portal hypertension on imaging, a rapid improvement in jaundice with PTBD and a good future liver remnant. This enabled a major liver resection with good outcomes. There was nothing to suggest the presence of underlying liver disease on preoperative evaluation, in imaging, or even at surgery. It was only at final histopathology that the diagnosis of HCC and underlying liver disease could be made.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report of a case of HCC masquerading as a hilar cholangiocarcinoma to have a surgical resection with good long-term outcomes.

Conclusions

HCC infiltrating the biliary system may sometimes masquerade as hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Good outcomes can be achieved with complete resection in patients with preserved liver functions and absence of portal hypertension

Abbreviations

AFP: 

alpha fetoprotein

CA19-9: 

carbohydrate antigen 19-9

HCC: 

hepatocellular carcinoma

IHC: 

immunohistochemistry

PTBD: 

percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interests related to this publication.

Authors’ contributions

Writing of the first draft and provision of material support (PG), provision of material support and critical revision of the drafted manuscript (SD), performance of the surgery, provision of material support and critical revision of the drafted manuscript (VM), critical revision of the drafted manuscript and provision of funding (SM, SL, NNM, SN).

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