Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver concomitant with primary colon cancer: report of a case

摘要

A 55-year-old Japanese female was admitted to our hospital to treat colon cancer. Computed tomography revealed a 2.6 x 2.0 cm liver mass considered to be liver metastasis. She synchronously underwent right colectomy with D3 lymph node dissection and subsegmentectomy 8 under the diagnosis of advanced colon cancer with liver metastasis. The pathology examination revealed the liver nodule was pure squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas histology of colon cancer was a well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma containing no squamous component. The patient underwent intensive checkup by imaging for a primary site of SCC. However, no lesion considered as possible primary site of SCC was found. Therefore, the liver nodule was finally diagnosed as a primary hepatic SCC. Primary SCC of the liver is a rare and high-grade malignant tumor. Recurrent multiple liver nodule was found at 13 months after surgery and the patient died of cancer 17 months after surgery. Introduction Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the liver is very rare. It has been reported that primary SCC of the liver is often associated with hepatic teratoma, non-parasitic hepatic cyst, or hepatolithiasis. For the definite diagnosis of primary liver SCC, exclusion of the possibility of metastasis from primary SCC of other organs is very important. We have experienced a unique case of primary SCC of the liver which did not have a history of prior liver insult or pre-existing hepatic cysts and presented as synchronous double cancer of ascending colon. We herein report the case and the process of discussion about the diagnosis.