Ahead of print Imaging features of ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in primary hepatic carcinosarcoma : three cases report

The WHO defines carcinosarcoma as a malignant tumor composed of a mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma (PHCS) is a very rare malignant tumor which is highly invasive, metastatic and with a poor prognosis [1]. The symptoms and serological tumor markers are nonspecific and the prognosis of PHCS is mainly related to tumor size, differentiation degree, clinical stage and surgical excision range. Previous published papers mostly reviewed the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics [2-5] or described the imaging features in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) of PHCS [6-8]. Little is known about ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) [9]. We summarized three cases of PHCS confirmed by pathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) after surgery or biopsy. The findings of relevant imaging features and literature were reviewed.