23295              MASSIVE HEPATOMA

This is a surgical specimen from a 22 year old woman who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and hepatomegaly.  A liver scan and arteriography suggested the presence of a hepatoma.  From the past history it seemed that she had probably suffered from infections hepatitis two years before, and Australia antigen was demonstrated in the serum.

The specimen consists of a large irregular spheroidal mass of tissue.  The cut surface shows a lobulated variegated neoplasm with many areas of fibrosis, haemorrhage and necrosis.  The tumour occupies the bulk of the specimen.  Histology shows a rather carcinoid structure with large sheets of closely packed polygonal cells enclosed within a fibrous capsule.