Qing D, Pan SL, Zhao J, Liu XB, Li WN. Primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in the liver: A case report and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(10): 124211 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.124211]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Wei-Nan Li, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, No. 1 Maoyuan South Road, Shunqing District, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China. 276021107@qq.com
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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case-report
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Qing D, Pan SL, Zhao J, Liu XB, Li WN. Primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in the liver: A case report and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(10): 124211 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.124211]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Oct 15, 2026; 18(10): 124211 Published online Oct 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.124211
Primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in the liver: A case report and review of literature
Di Qing, Sheng-Lan Pan, Jing Zhao, Xi-Bei Liu, Wei-Nan Li
Di Qing, Xi-Bei Liu, Health Management Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Sheng-Lan Pan, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Jing Zhao, Interventional Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Wei-Nan Li, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Qing D designed the study and drafted the manuscript; Pan SL collected clinical data; Zhao J performed data analysis; Liu XB assisted with data verification and figure preparation; and Li WN supervised the study and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: Portions of this manuscript were edited using ChatGPT (OpenAI) solely for English-language refinement, including improvements in grammar, clarity, and readability. The authors carefully reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and scientific content of the manuscript.
Supported by the Hospital-level Research Project of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, No. 2025MSZK015.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College (Approval No. 2025ER363-3).
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s family for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Wei-Nan Li, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, No. 1 Maoyuan South Road, Shunqing District, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China. 276021107@qq.com
Received: June 10, 2026 Revised: August 12, 2026 Accepted: September 17, 2026 Published online: October 15, 2026 Processing time: 122 Days and 0.6 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma (PHSCC) is extremely rare, accounting for approximately 0.2% of all primary liver malignancies. PHSCC lacks specific clinical manifestations and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Currently, no disease-specific diagnostic or therapeutic guidelines are available. Management of PHSCC generally follows protocols for hepatocellular carcinoma. The prognosis of PHSCC remains poor, with a reported median overall survival of less than 1 year.
CASE SUMMARY
We report the case of a 62-year-old Han Chinese man admitted with a 7-day history of persistent right upper abdominal distension and pain, accompanied by fatigue and loss of appetite. Physical examination revealed right upper abdominal tenderness. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a large hypodense mass involving the left hepatic lobe and the right anterior hepatic lobe. Ultrasound-guided liver biopsy and subsequent histopathological examination confirmed PHSCC after extrahepatic primary sites were excluded. Following multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation, the patient received transarterial interventional therapy combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Post-treatment imaging demonstrated marked tumor regression. The patient achieved an overall survival of 28 months. We also reviewed the relevant literature to summarize the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic approaches for this rare malignancy.
CONCLUSION
This case suggests that, for selected patients with unresectable PHSCC, an MDT-guided strategy incorporating transarterial interventional therapy and an ICI may represent a potential individualized therapeutic option.
Core Tip: Primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare, and no standard treatment has been established. This unresectable, multifocal case was treated with transarterial chemoembolization combined with camrelizumab, followed by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, achieving an overall survival of 28 months. This case suggests that nonsurgical multimodal therapy may provide temporary intrahepatic disease control. However, a single case cannot establish the independent contribution of each treatment or a causal relationship with survival benefit.
