Published online Feb 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i6.1630
Revised: October 20, 2013
Accepted: December 3, 2013
Published online: February 14, 2014
Processing time: 150 Days and 1.7 Hours
Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor and is comprised of a mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. We present a case of primary carcinosarcoma of the liver in a 59-year-old woman, which was confirmed by pathology following surgical resection. Using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, the tumor showed peripheral nodular hyperenhancement in the arterial phase with two feeding arterial vessels and a large internal non-enhancing portion in the center. The peripheral nodular portion of the tumor showed hypoenhancement in the later phase.
Core tip: Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor and is comprised of a mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements, easily misdiagnosed as other types of tumor or an abscess. This is the first report on the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography characteristics of primary hepatic carcinosarcoma.