Pigmented hepatocellular adenoma with beta-catenin activation: case report and literature review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Coelho, R (Author) Other; Goncalves, R (Author) Other; Carneiro F (Author) FMUP; Fernandes, M (Author) Other; Lopes, J (Author) Other; Guimaraes, S (Author) Other; Macedo, G (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Annals of Hepatology

Vol. 15

Pages: 598-603

ISSN: 1665-2681

Publisher: Ediciones Medicina y Cultura

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-HAA

Abstract (EN): Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) are benign liver tumors recently characterized into 4 different types according to genetic, pathological and clinical features. The prognosis is not well established yet and malignant transformation has been recently associated with ?-catenin activation. We aimed to describe a case of a pigmented HCA with ?-catenin nuclear expression and inflammatory features and to review the cases of pigmented HCAs in the literature. We report a case of a young female patient without contraceptive use, with a liver tumor diagnosis. Liver biopsy revealed diffuse expression of ?-catenin and a partial hepatic resection was performed. The histologic analysis revealed a hepatocellular tumor composed of uniform trabeculae of hepatocytes and solid areas, the later with a significant amount of black pigment highlighted by Masson-Fontana stain. Immunohistochemistry showed co-expression of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A in the tumor. Literature review revealed that pigmented HCAs, previously reported as dark adenomas, are rare tumors. In HCAs, the presence of ?-catenin activation should be searched for due to the higher risk of malignant transformation in hepatocarcinoma. We describe a pigmented HCA with ?-catenin nuclear expression and inflammatory features being the fifth case reported so far.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6