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Primary hepatic carcinoma with inhibin positivity in a young male patient: a rare tumor previously only reported in females—case report and review of literature

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Abstract

Primary hepatic carcinoma with inhibin positivity is a rare aggressive liver tumor with seven cases described. The tumor presents at a younger age than primary hepatic carcinoma with all cases being females. RNA albumin ISH positivity suggests the tumor to be a primary hepatic carcinoma. The tumor is different from hepatocellular carcinoma as well as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma because of its distinct morphology, lack of hepatocellular differentiation, strong inhibin staining, and lack of typical mutations. A 26-year-old male presented with a 20-cm liver mass. The tumor progressed on therapy with development of multiple lung metastasis. Currently, the patient is enrolled in phase II clinical trial utilizing nivolumab and ipilumumab. While the tumor has a female preponderance, it is not exclusively found in females. Additional studies are necessary to determine the cause of inhibin staining, driving molecular alterations, natural history of this rare tumor, and to come up with consensus nomenclature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Tom Z. Liang & Shefali Chopra

  2. Department of Radiology, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Gilbert Whang

Authors
  1. Tom Z. Liang
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  2. Gilbert Whang
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  3. Shefali Chopra
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Contributions

Tom Z Liang: literature review, material collection and writing, and editing the manuscript.

Gilbert Whang: collection of radiology findings and editing the radiology portion of the manuscript.

Shefali Chopra: conception and design, literature review, material collection, writing and editing the manuscript.

All authors have agreed with submission of this manuscript in the present and subsequent form.

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Correspondence to Shefali Chopra.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Quality in Pathology

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Liang, T.Z., Whang, G. & Chopra, S. Primary hepatic carcinoma with inhibin positivity in a young male patient: a rare tumor previously only reported in females—case report and review of literature. Virchows Arch 478, 605–610 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02864-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02864-y

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