Primary hepatic carcinoids are rare tumors that are often diagnosed at a locally advanced stage. Their primary nature can only be ascertained after thorough investigations and long-term follow-up to exclude another primary origin. As with secondary neuroendocrine liver tumors, surgical resection remains the mainstay of therapy. Despite their large size and often central location liver resection is often feasible, offering long-term survival and cure to most patients. In selected patients liver transplantation appears to be a good indication for tumors not amenable to liver resection. An aggressive surgical attitude is therefore warranted. We report a large and unusually fast-growing liver carcinoid that appeared only marginally resectable in a patient who remains free of disease four years after surgery. 1. Introduction With less than 100 reports in the literature little is known of primary hepatic carcinoids. They often present as large centrally situated liver masses, characteristics that may discourage attempts at resection. Data is scarce on the outcome of surgical treatment but these tumors seem to be associated with a favorable prognosis, justifying an aggressive surgical approach. Presented here is a patient with a giant primary liver carcinoid that appeared only marginally resectable, who remains disease free four years after surgical resection. 2. Case Report A 52-year-old female complained of fatigue and intermittent fever of one-year duration. There was no history of liver failure, hematemesis, flushing, or diarrhea. She had undergone a previous appendectomy. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a heterogeneous 8？cm right lobe focal liver lesion. Contrast enhanced CT performed one month later showed a solid 15？cm liver mass with a hypodense core that was suggestive of an atypical hemangioma. The patient came to our attention two months after the initial ultrasound with palpable hepatomegaly. MR showed a hypervascularized solitary liver lesion measuring 20？cm (Figure 1). Malignancy was further suspected by FDG-PET scan showing increased uptake. Laboratory data showed normal liver function and hepatitis B and C serologies were negative. Serum tumor markers including CEA, AFP, CA 12.5, CA 19.9, and NSE were within normal range while chromogranin A was moderately elevated. 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA excretion was normal. Chest CT showed no signs of malignancy. No primary tumor was found at gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Laparoscopy showed that the right liver lobe was completely occupied by a polylobulated firm white mass. The left lobe appeared healthy and
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