Rare Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Liver in a patient with no history of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of unknown pathogenesis characterized by poorly differentiated carcinoma tissue containing sarcoma-like differentiation of either spindle or giant cell and rarely occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary-pancreatic system.1 Primary hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma accounts for only 0.2 % of primary malignant liver tumors, and 1.8% of all surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas.2 The majority of hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma cases appear to occur simultaneously with hepatocellular or cholangiocellular carcinoma.3 The preferred treatment for hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma is surgical resection and the overall prognosis is poor.4 This case depicts a 62-year-old female whom underwent initial resection in 2010 of a cavernous hemangioma. Seven years after her initial diagnosis she developed what was initially felt to be local recurrence of the hemangioma but additional diagnostic workup with a liver biopsy confirmed primary hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma

Consensus-Derived Quality Performance Indicators for Neuroendocrine Tumour Care

Quality performance indicators (QPIs) are used to monitor the delivery of cancer care. Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a family of individually uncommon cancers that derive from neuroendocrine cells or their precursors, and can occur in most organs. There are currently no QPIs available for NETs and their heterogeneity makes QPI development difficult. CommNETs is a collaboration between NET clinicians, researchers and advocates in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We created QPIs for NETs using a three-step consensus process. First, a multidisciplinary team used the nominal group technique to create candidates (n = 133) which were then curated into appropriateness statements (62 statements, 44 sub-statements). A two-stage modified RAND/UCLA Delphi consensus process was conducted: an online survey rated the statement appropriateness then the top-ranked statements (n = 20) were assessed in a face-to-face meeting. Finally, 10 QPIs met consensus criteria; documentation of primary site, proliferative index, differentiation, tumour board review, use of a structured pathology report, presence of distant metastasis, 5- and 10-year disease-free and overall survival. These NET QPIs will be trialed as a method to monitor and improve care for people with NETs and to facilitate international comparison