Extensive portal tumor thrombi with portal hypertension in an autopsy case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Vascular invasion is not a prominent feature of cholangiocarcinoma (CCC), in contrast to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which frequently shows extensive vascular tumor thrombi. We report an autopsy case of CCC with extensive portal tumor thrombi and portal hypertension. A 57-yr-old man presented with abdominal pain. Liver imaging revealed no tumors, but showed intrahepatic portal venous obstruction. HCC with portal tumor thrombi was suspected clinically. His clinical course was rapid; he died of hepatic failure 50 days after admission. At autopsy, the liver (2,700 g) was studded with diffuse whitish yellow granular areas with flecks of coalescent granules. Intrahepatic portal veins were diffusely occluded by tumor thrombi. Microscopically, the tumor was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with mucin; tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9, DU-PAN-2, and biliary type cytokeratins, but negative for alpha-fetoprotein. Tumor cells were diffuse in the liver, and there were numerous tumor thrombi in the small portal veins. Hepatic veins and small arteries were occasionally occluded by tumor thrombi. There was ascites, splenomegaly and tumor thrombi in the gastric and esophageal veins, suggesting that portal hypertension had been present. This tumor seemed to have marked affinity to invade portal veins. It must be stressed that there are CCCs with extensive portal tumor thrombi and resultant portal hypertension.