A case of hepatic angiosarcoma diagnosed by liver resection

Abstract

A 29-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of upper abdominal pain in August 1984. Hematological examination showed anemia and thrombocytopenia. Other data revealed along prothrombin time and bleeding time. Alpha-fetoprotein was negative. Her case was diagnosed as cavernous hemoangioma of the liver and spleen by abdominal arteriogram, but these lesions were suspected of angiosarcoma because bone metastasis was found. We failed in the trial of liver biopsy under laparoscopy because of sever bleeding on the surface of the liver tumor. Finally, the definite diagnosis of hepatic and splenic angiosarcoma was taken from histological findings of the surgically resected liver. She died of hepatic failure in March 1985. Autopsy disclosed of the angiosarcoma of the liver, spleen and bone, but the origin was unknown. It is difficult to take antemortem diagnosis of hepatic angiosarcoma. Especially, this disease must be differentiated from cavernous hemoangioma and cystic lesion of liver. If suggestive of hepatic angiosarcoma, liver biopsy under laparotomy or surgical liver resection should be performed. © 1988, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.