An autopsy case of renal cell carcinoma associated with extensive peliosis hepatis.

An autopsy case of renal cell carcinoma with extensive peliosis hepatis is reported. The patient was a 34-year-old female, who had had a left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma but died of multiple metastases one year and 4 months after surgery, despite chemotherapy and interferon treatment. At autopsy, the liver was enlarged markedly with multiple metastatic nodules and the non-neoplastic hepatic parenchyma had a spongy appearance, due to diffusely scattered, blood-filled cystic lesions. Histological examination showed the oval to irregular shaped blood-filled spaces were lined by hepatic cell cords and located mainly in the periportal area. In addition, almost all of the sinusoids were dilated and communicated with the cystic blood-filled spaces, which also communicated directly with branches of the portal veins at various levels. Several interlobular portal branches were obstructed. The causative mechanism of peliosis hepatis has yet to be elucidated, although some causative conditions have been proposed. In this case, renal cell carcinoma may have caused the sinusoidal dilatation and the vascular changes in the portal areas, such as obstruction of terminal portal branches, may have contributed to its formation.