An ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma arising from the gallbladder: a rare case report

Abstract

Background: Ectopic liver (EL) refers to the presence of hepatic tissue outside its normal anatomical location. EL is predominantly localized in the gallbladder, and is prone to hepatocarcinogenesis. However, only a solitary case of ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma (EHCC) arising within the gallbladder has been reported. The uncharacteristic clinical manifestations and abnormal pathological features make it difficult to achieve pre-pathological diagnosis. Case presentation: We present a forty-year-old Asian female patient with an untreated medical history of hepatitis B, who presented to the hospital with a complaint of elevated α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Both of computed tomography arteriography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an 1.6cm exogenous nodule in the liver, projecting into the gallbladder fossa. The patient ultimately underwent surgical resection, with histologically confirmation of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. No signs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence were observed after a seven-month follow-up. Conclusions: Herein, retrospective analysis of a rare case of ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma is presented, along with a comprehensive review of the clinical history and prognosis of 24 cases of abdominal EHCC. The combination of AFP levels and advanced imaging techniques facilitates the accurate identification of EHCC. Surgery, in most cases, yields satisfactory outcome.