Abstract

Sclerosing hepatic carcinoma (SHC) is composed of slender cords or small nests of tumor cells with peripheral palisading, and abundant intervening sclerosis. The tumor seems to have the histologic features of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. To evaluate the phenotypic expression of SHC and to investigate its cellular origin, immunohistochemical studies on three cases of SHC were performed. In all cases, the tumor cells showed positive staining for cytokeratins AE1, AE3 and 19, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). The expressions of cytokeratins AE1 and 19 were stronger in the palisading cells than the interior of the cords and nests. Conversely, CEA and EMA were expressed mainly in the inner portion. Alpha-fetoprotein was expressed in only one case, mainly in the palisading cells. In summary, SHC has the histological as well as the immunohistochemical profiles intermediate between HCC and cholangiocarcinoma, and the immunohistochemical profile suggests that SHC arises from primitive hepatoblast with a tendency of differentiation to the bile duct epithelium.

• Keywords: Sclerosing hepatic carcinoma;Hepatocellular carcinoma;Cholangiolocellular carcinoma;Cytokeratin;Alpha-fetoprotein;Carcinoembrynic antigen