A rare case of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the adrenal gland

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare type of extrahepatic adenocarcinoma, with morphological characteristics identical to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HAC is difficult to accurately diagnose because of its clinical similarity to HCC. The diagnosis is always achieved by pathological examination after the surgery. This case report describes a sixty-year-old male patient who was referred to the Shandong Provincial Hospital due to right abdominal discomfort. The computed tomography showed a cystic solid mass in the adrenal region. The patient was operated with the diagnosis of adrenal tumor. The pathological examination following surgery showed right adrenal HAC. Furthermore, the tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for Heppar1+, Glapican3+ and CK+. The histological features together with the immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of a rare case of HAC of the adrenal gland.