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Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Gaffey Michael J.,
Joyce John P.,
Carlson Glen S.,
Esteban Jose M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19900615)65:12<2779::aid-cncr2820651228>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , esophageal varices , cirrhosis , carcinoma , biopsy , pathology , gastroenterology , radiology , portal hypertension
A surgically unresectable, biopsy‐proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in a 63‐year‐old man with cirrhosis. He survived 24 months without treatment. During that time the tumor burden decreased as demonstrated both radiologically and by the normalization of alpha‐fetoprotein levels. The patient died of complications secondary to repeated esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Necropsy demonstrated prominent, ulcerated esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis without evidence of neoplasia either grossly or on a subsequent thorough microscopic examination. This case represents the first confirmation of HCC spontaneous regression in which a primary histologic diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric DNA analysis, and where tumor regression was proven by a thorough necropsy examination.