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A Case Of Spontaneous Regression Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Bone Metastasis

Sato et al., 1985Liver cancer

Cancer 56(3): Aug 1 1985; 667-671

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Abstract

A 25-year follow-up is given on a patient who has undergone spontaneous remission of a massive liver tumor diagnosed as hepatoma at 5 1/2 months of age. His surprisingly benign clinical course prompted a review of the original biopsy material which has been reclassified as a vascular tumor, probably a variant of hemangioendothelioma.

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

78-year-old japanese man with chronic liver disease, no history of alcoholic ingestion

Clinical Characteristics

Hypervascular liver tumors, marked elevation of alphafetoprotein value, pathological fracture of the femur, gastrointestinal bleeding

Remission Characteristics

Tumors disappeared with normalization of the alphafetoprotein level, the radiolucent area around the fracture site of the femur became consolidated

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Not discussed

Clinical Treatment

Operation for the fracture, transfusions of blood, open plating fixation of the fracture

Non-Clinical Treatment

Conservative treatments, medicines prescribed since june 1979: amoxicillin, hetacillin potassium, cefapirin sodium, doxycycline hydrochloride, spironolactone, furosemide, tranexamic acid, carbazochrome sodium sulfonate, pentazocine, antacids, anticholinergics, gefarnate, extract from hemolyzed blood of young calves (a medicine used for ulcer), polyenephosphatidyl choline, glutathione and lactulose

Additional Notes

Patient survives 62 months after the initial increase in alphafetoprotein level