A small mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the liver detected by a fluid-fluid level on ultrasonography

Surg Today. 1996;26(6):439-41. doi: 10.1007/BF00311933.

Abstract

A case of small, borderline malignant biliary mucinous cystic tumor is presented. The patient initially presented to us 18 months earlier to undergo a sigmoid colon resection for sigmoid colon cancer. At that time, a liver cyst measuring 18 x 12 mm was detected. On a follow-up abdominal ultrasonography study for colon cancer, the liver cyst had enlarged to 21 mm in diameter and contained a fluid-fluid level 18 months after surgery. Histological examination of a needle biopsy specimen indicated possible adenocarcinoma. Lateral segmentectomy of the liver was performed. Histopathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a mucinous cystic tumor, of border line malignancy, which had originated from a bile duct gland. It contained both mucinous and serous components, which were thought to have caused the formation of a fluid-fluid level within the cyst. In this case, the fluid-fluid level demonstrated by ultrasonography was beneficial in the early detection of a cystic tumor of the liver. This case may be the smallest reported cystadenocarcinoma of the liver yet published.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / surgery
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography