TY - JOUR
T1 - Primary liver carcinoma arising in people younger than 30 years
AU - Klein, Walter M.
AU - Molmenti, Ernesto P.
AU - Colombani, Paul M.
AU - Grover, Davinder S.
AU - Schwarz, Kathleen B.
AU - Boitnott, John
AU - Torbenson, Michael S.
PY - 2005/10
Y1 - 2005/10
N2 - Primary liver carcinomas in children and young adults are uncommon and poorly described. We examined primary liver carcinomas in people younger than 30 years and performed immunostains for markers of biliary (cytokeratin [CK] 7, CK19, CD56) and hepatocellular (HepPar) differentiation. We found 23 primary liver carcinomas: 13 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 9 fibrolamellar carcinomas (FLCs), and 1 cholangiocarcinoma. Most HCCs showed compact (n = 7) or trabecular (n = 4) growth patterns. The Edmondson grades were as follows: 1, 3 tumors; 2, 8 tumors; and 3, 2 tumors. All HCCs and FLCs were HepPar+. All FLCs and 7 of 9 HCCs were CK7+. In contrast, a control group of 65 adult HCCs showed less CK7 positivity (24 [37%]; P = .03). CK19 was positive in 2 HCCs and CD56 in 1 HCC. No chronic background liver disease was seen, although 3 cases showed foci of altered hepatocytes. HCCs are the most common primary liver carcinoma in children and young adults, followed by FLCs. They are morphologically similar to adult HCC, but more likely to be CK7+.
AB - Primary liver carcinomas in children and young adults are uncommon and poorly described. We examined primary liver carcinomas in people younger than 30 years and performed immunostains for markers of biliary (cytokeratin [CK] 7, CK19, CD56) and hepatocellular (HepPar) differentiation. We found 23 primary liver carcinomas: 13 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 9 fibrolamellar carcinomas (FLCs), and 1 cholangiocarcinoma. Most HCCs showed compact (n = 7) or trabecular (n = 4) growth patterns. The Edmondson grades were as follows: 1, 3 tumors; 2, 8 tumors; and 3, 2 tumors. All HCCs and FLCs were HepPar+. All FLCs and 7 of 9 HCCs were CK7+. In contrast, a control group of 65 adult HCCs showed less CK7 positivity (24 [37%]; P = .03). CK19 was positive in 2 HCCs and CD56 in 1 HCC. No chronic background liver disease was seen, although 3 cases showed foci of altered hepatocytes. HCCs are the most common primary liver carcinoma in children and young adults, followed by FLCs. They are morphologically similar to adult HCC, but more likely to be CK7+.
KW - Cytokeratin 7
KW - Fibrolamellar carcinoma
KW - Foci of altered hepatocytes
KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma
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U2 - 10.1309/TT0R7KAL32228E99
DO - 10.1309/TT0R7KAL32228E99
M3 - Article
C2 - 16146811
AN - SCOPUS:25844484569
SN - 0002-9173
VL - 124
SP - 512
EP - 518
JO - American journal of clinical pathology
JF - American journal of clinical pathology
IS - 4
ER -