Malignant-like angiomyolipoma of the liver: report of one case and review of the literature

Frequently found in kidney, angiomyolipoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor when diagnosed in the liver and usually benign composed of proliferative blood vessels, fatty tissue and smooth muscle. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who underwent a left hepatectomy for a 4(th) segment tumor unidentified after imaging and fine needle biopsy. Final anatomopathologic examination revealed an epithelioid hepatic angiomyolipoma with signs of malignant behaviour as vascular and lymphatics embolus and invaded left portal vein thrombosis. During the subsequent 24-month follow-up, no recurrence was observed. A review of the literature found only two cases of malignant hepatic angiomyolipoma with fatal issue, however, their incidence must be underrated because of their scarcity and the difficulty of their diagnosis, which needs immunohistochemical confirmation with HMB 45 in particularly. Advances in imaging and anatomopathology in particular with the concept of PE-Coma (Perivascular-Epithelioid Cell) as the unifying feature should lead to the recognition of the various variant patterns and cell types. The latter which are important for a correct diagnosis, in order to obtain reliable data about frequency, possible malignant behaviour and therefore consensus management for hepatic angiomyolipoma. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tons droits reserves.