Primary hepatic carcinoid; a diagnostic dilemma: a case report

INTRODUCTION Primary hepatic carcinoid tumours (PHCTs) are extremely rare neuroendocrine neoplasms. Only 58 cases have been reported in the literature and less than 10 cases were functional. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of a 65 years old, Caucasian female with a large unresectable primary hepatic carcinoid tumor secreting 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), presented with flushing and diarrhoea and treated with trans-catheter arterial embolization (TACE) and subsequent administration of lanreotide (long acting somatostatin analogue). CONCLUSION The diagnosis of PHCTs is difficult due to their common radiologic characteristics with other liver lesions. Their diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other sites of disease and the histologic confirmation. Although the mainstay of treatment when is technically feasible is surgical resection with optimal 5-year survival and low recurrence rate, in cases of unresectable disease palliation with combination of TACE and administration of somatostatin analogues have good results in controlling the disease and the patients symptoms.