Giant primary malignant mesothelioma of the liver: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm of mesothelial cells arising most frequently in the pleura or peritoneum and less frequently in the liver. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of primary hepatic mesothelioma of 41 year old woman. She had no history of asbestos exposure or cancer. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed 21 cm intrahepatic mass in the right lobe with many cystic lesions and few small calcifications. Pathology showed a biphasic cellular pattern. In addition, the tumor cells were positive for Calretinin, Creatine Kinase (CK)5/6, CK7, CKAEI 1/3, Wilms Tumor protein (WT-1), and Vimentin, but were negative for Alpha Feto protein (AFP), Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP-1), Anti-Hepatocyte Specific Antigen (HSA), Synaptophysin, CK20, and Homeobox protein (CDx-2). DISCUSSION: Primary intrahepatic mesothelioma (PIHMM) is not included in the classification of the World Health Organization classification of hepatic tumors. Mesothelial cells are not normally found in the liver, but some reported cases suggest it may grow from the mesothelial cells of the Glisson’s capsule. CONCLUSION: The probability of hepatic mesothelioma should not be ruled out, even in a young woman without a clear history of asbestos exposure.