Introduction : Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows typical findings in imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI). However, there are some cases which show different postoperative pathologic results from preoperative imaging diagnosis. Herein, we introduce two cases of rare hepatic tumor mistaken for a HCC.

Methods : First case of this report is a 62-year-old female and another case is a 67-year-old female patient. Two cases had similar clinical courses and we describe clinical course of these patients who received liver resection for rare hepatic tumor mistaken for a HCC.

Results : These patients visited for liver tumor diagnosed in medical check-up. Computed tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed single mass on segment 6 which was in accordance with diagnostic criteria of HCC. Liver biopsy was performed because these patients had no risk factor of HCC such as HBV, HCV and liver cirrhosis, and suspicious HCC was reported in pathologic results. These patients received liver resection (posterior sectionectomy for first case, tumorectomy for second case) and postoperative pathologic exams revealed adrenal cortical carcinoma in both cases.

Conclusions : Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor, but similar to a HCC on the basis of imaging and histologic features. For these reasons, this tumor can be mistaken for a HCC in cases of direct invasion or hepatic metastasis. Therefore, this tumor should be suspected once in case of suspicious HCC on segment 6 in imaging without risk factors.