title: A case of an undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver mimicking a liver abscess.
abstract: An undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a rare malignant tumour. We highlight the diagnostic dilemma and differential diagnosis of a case involving a large cystic liver lesion in a young adult. A 20-year-old man presented with a large liver lesion to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2012. The initial clinico-radiological presentations were suggestive of a liver abscess. A total tumour resection was performed and the final histopathological results of the resected specimen indicated an undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver. The ultrasound and computed tomographic images of the tumour were reviewed and found to be contradictory in appearance, as the tumour seemed predominantly solid in the ultrasound image and predominantly cystic in the computed tomographic image. Familiarisation with the imaging appearance of this tumour and a high index of suspicion is therefore crucial in making a successful diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Unit, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia;
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanafiah
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azyani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.affiliation: Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zamri
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zuhdi
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yazmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaacob
keywords: Case Report; Liver Abscess; Malaysia; Sarcoma; Ultrasound Imaging; X-Ray Computed Tomography