PRIMARY MALIGNANT LIVER TUMORS: A 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE POSTMORTEM REVIEW

Introduction and Objectives

Primary malignant liver tumors represent one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Their incidence has increased over recent decades, paralleling the rise in chronic liver diseases.

To determine the prevalence of different non-metastatic primary malignant liver tumors found in autopsies performed between 2003 and 2023 at a tertiary care center.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective, descriptive, observational study of autopsies performed in the pathology department of a tertiary care center between 2003 and 2023. Descriptive statistics were used, including measures of central tendency and dispersion.

Results

Autopsy was performed on 10,139 patients, 126 (1.24%) were classified as malignant primary liver tumors with 63±12 years, 52 females (41.3%) and 74 males (58.7%) and were distributed as follows: Hepatocarcinoma 99 (78.5%) with 63±12 years, 39 women (38.6%) and 60 men (59.4%); 38 (37.6%) had metastases mainly in lung followed by lymph nodes, only 9% were not related to cirrhosis; Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma 24 (19%) with 65 ±14 years, 12 males (50%), 12 females (50%), 70.8% had pulmonary metastases and 47.8% were not related to cirrhosis.Hepatic primitive neuroectodermal tumor 2 (1.59%) with 54 ±5.6 years with pleural and pulmonary metastases. Fibrolamellar carcinoma 1 (0.79%) with 24 years and metastasis in lymph nodes.

Conclusions

The prevalence of liver tumors in autopsy is low, the most prevalent being hepatocarcinoma followed by cholangiocarcinoma.

Conflict of interest: None