Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges of Intrahepatic Biliary Cystadenoma and Cystadenocarcinoma: A Report of 10 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract

The objective of this study was to present our experience with intrahepatic biliary cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas in 10 patients surgically managed in our department. Intrahepatic biliary cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas are rare cystic tumors that are often misdiagnosed preoperatively as simple cysts or hydatid cysts. They recur after incomplete resection and entail a risk of malignant transformation to cystadenocarcinoma. A retrospective review was conducted of patients with histologically confirmed intrahepatic biliary cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas between August 2004 and February 2013 who were surgically managed in our department. A total of 10 patients, 9 female and 1 male (mean age, 50 years), with cystic liver were reviewed. The size of the cysts ranged between 3.5 and 16 cm (mean, 10.6). Five patients had undergone previous interventions elsewhere and presented with recurrences. Liver resections included 6 hepatectomies, 2 bisegmentectomies, 1 extended right hepatectomy, and 1 enucleation due to the central position and the large size of the lesion. Pathology reports confirmed R0 resections in all cases. All patients were alive after a median follow-up of 6 years (range, 1–10 years), and no recurrence was detected. Intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with liver cystic tumors. Because of the high recurrence rate and difficult accurate preoperative diagnosis, formal liver resection is mandatory. Enucleation with free margins is an option and is indicated where resection is impossible.