Pathologic and Immunophenotypic Characterization of Syncytial Giant Cell Variant of Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A Distinct Subtype

Abstract

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in pediatrics has a uniformly poor prognosis. Complete surgical resection or liver transplantation remain the only curative options. In contrast to adult HCC, literature on pediatric HCC is sparse and a majority of the distinct subtypes are undefined with regards to their histology, immunohistochemistry and prognosis.

Case report

Two infants, one with biliary atresia and another with transaldolase deficiency, underwent living donor liver transplants. Explant-liver histopathology revealed tumor with diffuse neoplastic syncytial giant cell pattern. Immunophenotypic characterization highlighted expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule, alpha fetoprotein and metallothionein.

Conclusion

HCC with syncytial giant cells variant can occur in infants with underlying liver disease, specifically in our experience, with biliary atresia and another with transaldolase deficiency.

Keywords:

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• pathology
• syncytial giant cell
• immunohistochemistry
• epithelial cell adhesion molecule
• alpha fetoprotein

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.