Spontaneous Regression Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Report Of A Case.
Ohtani, H., Yamazaki, O., Matsuyama, M., Horii, K., Shimizu, S., Oka, H., Nebiki, H., Kioka, K., Kurai, O., Kawasaki, Y., Manabe, T., Murata, K., Matsuo, R., & Inoue, T. (2005). spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case. Surgery today, 35(12), 1081–1086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-005-3066-8
View Original Source →Abstract
A spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma is an extremely rare phenomenon. A 69-year-old Japanese man with hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis presented with a liver tumor. We diagnosed the tumor to be hepatocellular carcinoma in the course of spontaneous regression, by imaging studies and changes in the tumor markers. Because the possible presence of viable cancer cells could not be ruled out, we recommended surgery. He refused all treatments at first, but finally agreed to undergo surgery about 10 months after presentation. A hepatectomy was performed. Histologically, no viable tumor cells were found. In our case, the vascularity of the tumor according to the imaging findings was followed up during the clinical course. The patient is now doing well and without any evidence of recurrence at 37 months after surgery.
Case Details
Disease Location
Liver
Personal Characteristics
69-year-old man with chronic hepatitis c, diagnosed in 2001 and a gastric ulcer. He had no known history of a blood transfusion or medication such as anticoagulant drugs and vitamin k. He was, however, a heavy drinker.
Clinical Characteristics
A liver tumour was first detected by us. Plain CT showed an almost uniformly low-density area measure ing 4.0cm in diameter in couinaud’s segment 4 (s4) with several liver cysts. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (cect) revealed the tumour to be encapsulated, enhanced for the most part, while it also had small, low-density areas suggesting necrosis.
Remission Characteristics
2 months after the first us, and a new us showed a 5.1 ¥ 5.0-cm liver tumour in s4. The tumour showed a mosaic pattern with a halo. 9 months after, dynamic CT was performed revealed the previous tumour in s4 to have decreased to 2.0cm in diameter, but it was not enhanced
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Possibly related to a disturbance of the blood supply on the peripheral side, such as the formation of a thick capsule
Clinical Treatment
Subsegmentectomy 11 month after diagnosis