Hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumor resembling hepatic adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma on preoperative imaging: a case report

We presented a case of a 29-year-old woman with hepatic PEComa and evaluated the tumor with MRI, integrated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT scans at presentation. The patient had a history of intermittent utilization of oral contraceptive drugs for several years. An abdominal ultrasound in a physical examination from an outside institution revealed a mass in the liver. A contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI revealed restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and rapid contrast enhancement and washout patterns in the hepatic lesion, suggesting hepatic adenoma (HA) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Further assessment was carried out using 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT scans. The hepatic lesion was non-FDG avid, whereas increased tracer uptake was observed on the 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. Subsequently, laparoscopic partial resection of liver segment V was performed. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated positive staining for HMB45, Melan-A, and SMA while showing negative results for AFP, glypican-3, hepatocyte, and arginase-1. The results were indicative of a hepatic PEComa diagnosis based on these findings. We also review the current literature on the clinical characteristics, pathological features, and challenges in the diagnosis of hepatic PEComa.
Source: Frontiers in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research