Primary clear cell carcinoma of liver--clinicopathologic features and surgical results of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver (PCCCL) is a subgroup of hepatocellular carcinoma. At present, little is known about the relationship between the prognosis and the treatment of PCCCL. The purpose of the study was to analyze the clinical and pathological features, and to discuss the relationship between the prognosis and the surgical treatment of PCCCL.

METHODOLOGY: Eighteen cases with pathologically proved PCCCL between March 1999 and January 2003 were enrolled, the preoperative and intraoperative clinical features, pathological features and the follow-up data were analyzed.

RESULTS

Histological examinations showed PCCCL was characterized by large numbers of vacuolated clear cells. The differentiation degree ranged from grade 1 to 3, liver cirrhosis or/and chronic hepatitis was present in paratumorous tissues. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 76.5% (13/18) and 47.1% (8/18) respectively, and the median survival time was 23 months. The longest survival time was 97 months after surgery. Among the 13 cases with radical resection, nine cases had recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The clear cells of PCCCL contain substantial quantities of glycogen and lipid. The clinical characteristics of the PCCCL are similar to those of conventional hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgical resection is an effective way to achieve favorable outcomes and even long-term survival of the patients with PCCCL.