Infantile Hepatic Hemangioendothelioma with Elevated Alpha-fetoprotein: Case Report and Review

Abstract

Infantile hemangioendothelioma is the most common benign mesenchymal tumor of the liver and usually occurs within the first six months of life. Although serum alpha-fetoprotein is a significant tumor marker in cases of hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and germ cell tumors, elevated levels are rarely observed in patients with infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma. In such cases, given that the differential diagnoses have different prognoses, accessible diagnostic options should be sought in order to guide clinical management. The exact cause of alpha-fetoprotein elevation in hemangioendothelioma has not yet been clarified, although some studies have shown that hepatocytes trapped near the tumor are responsible for the increased serum levels. In this paper, we describe a clinical case of solitary infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma as a rare clinical presentation with elevation of this tumor marker.