Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Four patients had resection for primary hepatic sarcoma: one with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), two with poorly differentiated fibrosarcoma, and one with leiomyosarcoma. Age ranged from 40 to 69 years. One patient had a cousin and a grandmother who had died of hepatic tumors. At presentation, all patients had pain; one had tumor rupture, and one had mental changes and hypoglycemia. None had hepatitis or cirrhosis. Results of laboratory evaluation were nonspecific, including normal carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Computed tomography showed hypodense masses with enhancement. Angiography showed a hypervascular mass in three patients and an avascular mass in the patient with MFH. Despite large tumors (8 to 32 cm), portal and hepatic veins were not invaded. The pattern of vascularization and lack of venous invasion helps differentiate primary hepatic sarcomas from hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in noncirrhotic patients. All patients had extensive hepatic resections, with one operative death. Immunohistochemical stains of the tumors were positive for vimentin but negative for epithelial markers, differentiating these lesions from other hepatic tumors. The patient with MFH died with recurrence at 10 1/2 months. The patient with the ruptured fibrosarcoma had a second resection and chemotherapy, but died with recurrence at 3 years. The patient with the leiomyosarcoma had a second resection and was disease free at 4 years. Resection of primary hepatic sarcoma is warranted, with potential survival measured in years.
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PMID:Resection of primary hepatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma. 751 Sep 7

Rarely, spindle-cell lesions in liver fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) are encountered. A retrospective review of our experience with lesions that are mesenchymal in origin or appearance was undertaken to elucidate the frequency and spectrum of these lesions. Image-guided liver FNABs performed over a 3-year period (n = 585) at our institution (1996-1998) were retrospectively evaluated. Cytologic smears, cell block preparations, and clinical follow-up of lesions with spindle-cell morphology were reviewed. Twenty-nine of 585 cases were of spindle-cell morphology (5%). Hemangiomas (n = 12, 41%) and metastatic sarcomas (n = 6, 21%) comprised the largest categories, followed by granulomatous inflammation (n = 3, 10%). Other cases included primary angiosarcoma and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. The most frequent spindle-cell liver lesion encountered is hemangioma, followed by metastatic leiomyosarcoma and granulomatous hepatitis. Awareness of diagnostic possibilities, special attention to specimen adequacy, and use of ancillary procedures can maximize diagnostic yield.
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PMID:Spindle-cell lesions of the liver: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. 1147 11

Cirrhosis resulting from autoimmune hepatitis is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A common treatment for autoimmune hepatitis, azathioprine, is also associated with the development of many other cancers, predominantly lymphomas. The strongest association is seen for post-transplant lymphoma and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients; there is also an association with a variety of cutaneous malignancies. A relationship between azathioprine and sarcoma has not been demonstrated, though there have been sporadic case reports. We report here the development of leiomyosarcoma in a patient who was treated with azathioprine for autoimmune hepatitis without cirrhosis.
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PMID:Development of Leiomyosarcoma in a Patient Treated with Azathioprine. 3145 74