Spontaneous Regression Of Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Report And Literature Review
Chin, K. M., Chan, C. Y., & Lee, S. Y. (2018). Spontaneous regression of pancreatic cancer: A case report and literature review. International journal of surgery case reports, 42, 55–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.11.056
View Original Source →Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous regression of cancer is defined as the partial or complete disappearance of malignant disease without treatment, or in the presence of therapy that is deemed inadequate to exert an influence on malignant disease, as composed by Tilden Everson and Warren Cole in the 1960s. It has been a topic of major interest in the field of medical and surgical oncology. It is poorly understood and scantily documented. Factors associated and postulated pathogeneses are at best, hypothetical. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a case of spontaneous resolution of a head of pancreas carcinoma in a 77-year-old gentleman after a myocardial infarction event delayed planned surgery. DISCUSSION: A literature review of previously reported cases of spontaneous regression of pancreatic cancer was performed. The possible predisposing factors to spontaneous regression of pancreatic and other forms of malignancies was reviewed. CONCLUSION: This is a novel case of spontaneous regression of pancreatic carcinoma after an episode of myocardial infarction. The pathophysiology to spontaneous resolution of cancer is not well understood, may be multifactorial and requires further study.
Case Details
Disease Location
Pancreas
Personal Characteristics
77-year-old gentleman
Clinical Characteristics
2-week history of jaundice, pruritus, bruising, tea-coloured urine, unintentional weight loss of 13 kg over the past year, and a loss of appetite. Physical examination revealed scleral icterus and a right hypochondriac mass palpable approximately 2–3 cm inferior to the left costal margin. CT revealed marked dilatation of the intrahepatic and common bile ducts with an abrupt cutoff proximal to a 4.0 × 4.4 cm ill-defined hypovascular mass in the pancreatic head. Based on clinical presentation and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed with a resectable head of pancreas (hop) adenocarcinoma.
Remission Characteristics
A CT scan 4 months after initial diagnosis revealed that the intrahepatic and common bile duct biliary dilatation previously observed had resolved and the previously noted hop tumor was no longer identified