Diffuse hepatoid adenocarcinoma in the peritoneal cavity.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare tumor that occurs mostly in the gastrointestinal tract. We encountered a 68-year-old man suffering from HAC with severe ascites. The serum and ascitic alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were markedly high. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that multiple nodular lesions were disseminated only in the peritoneal cavity. Based on laparoscopic and histological findings, this tumor was diagnosed as diffuse HAC which was developed primarily in the peritoneum. Despite treatments with appropriate chemotherapy, he died six months after diagnosis. According to literature updates, this is the first documented case of diffuse HAC which developed in the peritoneum.