Management of Diagnosis and Treatment in a Case of Fibrolamellar Carcinoma

Cancer Diagn Progn. 2021 Mar 3;1(1):23-28. doi: 10.21873/cdp.10004. eCollection 2021 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Background/aim: Fibrolamellar carcinoma is a rare primary hepatic malignancy that has recently been recognized as a distinct clinical entity, highly different from the well-known hepatocellular carcinoma. This report describes the clinical and paraclinical aspects of the fibrolamellar carcinoma, emphasizing its particularities.

Case report: A 30-year-old patient presented to the hospital with nonspecific symptoms and weight loss, with imaging findings showing abdominal and mediastinal masses. Multiple biopsies were performed, leading to a diagnosis of metastatic fibrolamellar carcinoma. Given the extent of the disease, systemic drug treatment was administered, although prognosis was poor with tumor growth, resulting in biliary duct invasion.

Conclusion: Fibrolamellar carcinoma is a rare type of malignancy, with a difficult differential diagnosis in which imaging techniques are important but for which biopsy remains the gold standard. The prognosis depends on tumor extent and may include surgical methods or chemotherapy.

Keywords: Liver cancer; fibrolamellar carcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; sorafenib.

Publication types

  • Case Reports