Sclerosing hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinicopathologic features in seven patients from Taiwan and review of the literature

Background/Aims: Sclerosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an uncommon subtype of HCC. We provided data on 7 cases of sclerosing HCC, including clinical presentations, diagnoses, management, and prognoses. Methodology: A retrospective review of the medical records of seven patients with sclerosing HCC treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Taipei between Oct 1994 and Jan 2001. Results: Seven patients with sclerosing HCC were identified, with ages ranging from 26 to 71 years (mean, 42.3 years). Abdominal fullness was the most common symptom, occurring in 4 of seven patients (57.1%). All seven patients with sclerosing HCC had normal serum calcium and phosphate values. HCC was the most common preoperative diagnosis, occurring in 5 of seven patients (71.4%). Three of the seven patients were correctly diagnosed with sclerosing HCC preoperatively. The median overall survival and disease-free survival of these seven patients were 20 and 9 months, respectively. Conclusions: In Taiwan, the patients with sclerosing HCC had normal serum values of calcium and phosphate. Sclerosing HCC has specific, but different radiological and pathological features, compared with conventional HCC. Its prognosis does not seem poor, although we still need to follow-up for a longer period.