Hepatocellular carcinoma producing a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: report of a resected case with a literature review

A complete resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) producing the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was performed and is reported here. The patient had a few general symptoms and complications, such as the paraneoplastic syndrome. He had marked granulocytosis, and his serum levels of G-CSF and interleukin-6 were elevated. The pathological findings of the resected specimen revealed poorly differentiated HCC with sarcomatous change and showed, immunohistochemically, staining of G-CSF. Only a few cases of G-CSF-producing HCC have been reported, and they resulted in rapid tumour growth and poor prognosis. The case presented here may be the first complete resection ever performed, but the patient's prognosis was similar to that observed in typical cases.