Diagnosis of a Hepatic Angiomyolipoma by Fine-Needle Aspiration: A Case Report

Abstract

Hepatic angiomyolipomas (AML) diagnosed by fineneedle aspiration biopsy have only been reported sporadically. In this article, we present a case of hepatic angiomyolipoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration in a 55-year-old woman with an unexplained hepatic mass. The smears showed numerous arborizing capillary vessels transgressing sheets of cells with fibrillary cytoplasm and indistinct cytoplasmic border. Cell block sections showed sheets of epithelioid cells with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm or vacuolated, clear cytoplasm. Minimal amount of adipose tissue also was seen. Immunohistochemical stains revealed epithelioid tumor cells to be positive for HMB-45 and smooth muscle actin and negative for cytokeratin, supporting the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma. AML should be considered in the differential diagnosis when one encounters a tumor composed of epithelioid cells in a liver aspirate. Awareness of the rare occunence of AML in the liver and demonstration of a characteristic imlllunohistochemical profile are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. (The J Histotechnol 27:000, 2004)Submitted March 19, 2004; Accepted May 28, 2004