title: Primary clear cell carcinoma of liver--clinicopathologic features and surgical results of 18 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver (PCCCL) is a subgroup of hepatocellular carcinoma. At present, little is known about the relationship between the prognosis and the treatment of PCCCL. The purpose of the study was to analyze the clinical and pathological features, and to discuss the relationship between the prognosis and the surgical treatment of PCCCL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen cases with pathologically proved PCCCL between March 1999 and January 2003 were enrolled, the preoperative and intraoperative clinical features, pathological features and the follow-up data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examinations showed PCCCL was characterized by large numbers of vacuolated clear cells. The differentiation degree ranged from grade 1 to 3, liver cirrhosis or/and chronic hepatitis was present in paratumorous tissues. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 76.5% (13/18) and 47.1% (8/18) respectively, and the median survival time was 23 months. The longest survival time was 97 months after surgery. Among the 13 cases with radical resection, nine cases had recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clear cells of PCCCL contain substantial quantities of glycogen and lipid. The clinical characteristics of the PCCCL are similar to those of conventional hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgical resection is an effective way to achieve favorable outcomes and even long-term survival of the patients with PCCCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobilliary Disorders, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P R China. lao_xiangming@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiang-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: Ya-Qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rong-Ping
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Guo-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged