Spontaneous Disappearance Of Fundic Gland Polyposis: Report Of Three Cases

Abstract

The mechanism causing the systemic manifestations of malignant disease is not known, but possibly a similar mechanism, in reverse, may account for the occasional spontaneous regression of metastatic tumors. Everson and Cole reviewed reports of spontaneous regression of malignancies and found that 112 cases, proved histologically, appear to have adequate documentation to be acceptable as probable examples of spontaneous regression of cancer. In addition to the spontaneous regression of malignant tumors, regression and disappearance of some benign tumors have been reported. Fibromyomas of the uterus commonly regress after the menopause. The possibility of physiologically inducing regression of tumors without surgical intervention or radiotherapy is evident from some of the basic research on cancer. The spontaneous regression of metastatic cancer has a basic effect on our understanding of cancer, and gives hope for more effective means of treatment than our present tools–surgery and radiotherapy. Because of the importance of this problem, the author reports 2 cases of spontaneous regression.