Aspiration cytodiagnosis of clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma in an elderly woman. A case report.

The cytohistologic features of a clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma are described. The case occurred in an elderly woman. An aspirate was obtained from a solitary mass in the right lobe of the liver. The liver carcinoma was found to be the clear cell type, with infrequent bile and hyaline (Mallory body-like) bodies in the cytoplasm. The fact that clear cell type hepatocellular carcinoma possesses specific cellular characteristics and immunocytochemical features renders this case report useful in establishing a correct cytohistologic diagnosis, especially since this tumor variant shows a striking resemblance to "clear cell" tumors that originate in other organs and that may cause a diagnostic dilemma.