Report of a complex karyotype in recurrent metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and a review of hepatocellular carcinoma cytogenetics

Metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected in the abdominal lymph nodes of an adolescent male after resection of the primary tumor. No dividing cells were isolated from attempted cytogenetic studies of the primary tumor. However, cytogenetic analysis of lymph node metastases detected 9 and 12 months after partial hepatectomy revealed abnormal hypertriploid karyotypes, with a suggestion of clonal evolution: 62–92〈3n〉,XX, −Y,+3,+6,+6,+7,+7,+8,+10,+13, +15,+16,+20,−21,−22,+mar1×2,+mar[cp6]/46,XY[8] and 78〈3n〉,XX,−Y,der(1)t(1;1)(p36.1;q21), +4, +6,+6,+7,+7,i(8)(q10),+10,+15,+20,−21,−22,+mar1×2,+mar2[3]/46,XY[17], respectively. Karyotypes of this variant of HCC have not been reported previously. The cytogenetics of HCC are reviewed.