Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report of 25-Year Postoperative Survival

TL;DR

A patient with a rare liver cancer variant survived 25 years after surgery, showing long-term survival is possible with aggressive treatment and monitoring.

Contribution

This case report presents the longest postoperative survival documented in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) to date.

Findings

The patient underwent 14 surgeries over 25 years, including eight for recurrences in multiple sites.

CA125 levels were found to be a reliable tumor marker for recurrence and treatment response in this case.

Aggressive surgical intervention and vigilant follow-up contributed to long-term survival in FLHCC.

Abstract

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) variant. We report a 46-year-old patient with FLHCC who has achieved 25 years of postoperative survival, the longest reported to date. The patient underwent a right hepatic lobectomy, lymph node resection, and peritoneal dissemination removal. Over the years, he underwent seven additional surgeries for recurrences in various sites, including the intraperitoneal area, left lung, mediastinal lymph nodes, spleen, and transverse colon. To date, he has undergone a total of 14 surgeries, including eight for recurrences. FLHCC frequently recurs postoperatively despite its indolent nature. The patient’s cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels correlated well with recurrence and treatment efficacy, confirming it to be a reliable tumor marker. Currently, the patient is undergoing radiation therapy for recurrence in the mediastinal lymph nodes. This case highlights the potential for long-term survival with aggressive surgical intervention and vigilant follow-up, emphasizing the importance of surgical resection and monitoring in FLHCC management.

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