Cytologic features of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the liver: A case report and literature review

As one of the SMARCB1-deficient tumors, malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) of the liver is a rare and aggressive malignancy, typically in young children below the age of 3 years. The diagnosis of MRT of the liver is challenging both clinically and pathologically due to the rarity of the tumor and misdiagnosing it as a hepatoblastoma is not uncommon. Although MRT of the liver and hepatoblastoma share some similar clinical and morphological features, their prognosis and the clinical management are significantly different. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis of MRT or hepatoblastoma is critical for patient care. Here we report a case of an 8-month-old female with MRT of the liver diagnosed by fine needle aspiration and core biopsy. The cytologic and histological features, the results of immunohistochemical studies, and clinical follow-up information are presented. Recent literature regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this tumor were reviewed.