Fast-growing epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver: A case report

RATIONALE: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare vascular tumor of the liver with malignant potential. It can be of solitary type, multifocal type, or diffuse type. Although there are some characteristic features on radiologic imaging, the definitive diagnosis of HEH is based on histopathology. The surgical treatment of HEH includes liver resection and transplant. PATIENT CONCERNS: A middle-aged woman presented with easy fatiguability and anorexia for 1 month was found to have multifocal lesions on radiological imaging. DIAGNOSIS: HEH was diagnosed by needle biopsy. It can be seen from imaging that this case is a multifocal form. The largest lesion increased from 3 to 3.3 cm within 2 months, with an increase of 9.45%; no other relevant literatures have been reported. INTERVENTIONS: The possibility of liver transplantation was suggested to the patient. However, the patient refused transplantation and was successfully treated by radical right hepatectomy and resection of the left lobe lesion. OUTCOMES: She remained disease-free throughout a year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: HEH is a rare disease with characteristic radiological and pathological features. Although liver transplantation is the preferred treatment for multifocal HEH, surgical excision represents one alternative when the lesions can be guaranteed to be completely excised.