J Korean Soc Radiol.  2017 Oct;77(4):217-221. 10.3348/jksr.2017.77.4.217.

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Initially Presented as a Distant Metastatic Lymph Node without Demonstrable Hepatic Mass: A Case Report

• Kwon LM
• Ha HI
• Kim MJ
• Lee K
• Kwon MJ

• KMID: 2392117
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2017.77.4.217

Abstract

This report describes a rare case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, initially presented as a distant metastatic lymph node without demonstrable hepatic mass, in a 37-year-old man. Initially, a solitary cystic mass around the common hepatic artery was detected; two years later, a mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma developed in the left lobe of the liver. The cystic mass showed no change in shape and size for two years, which was then confirmed as a distant metastatic lymph node of cholangiocarcinoma after surgery. This was an extraordinary clinical manifestation of the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, which presented as a cavity lymphadenopathy with unknown primary site, in addition to favorable clinical course with stable size and shape for 2 years. After literature reviews, we discuss in this paper the possible mechanism of cancer of unknown primary in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and the prognostic factors involved.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Bone Cysts
Cholangiocarcinoma*
Hepatic Artery
Humans
Liver
Lymph Nodes*
Lymphatic Diseases
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis