spontaneous regression of hepatocellular cancer: Case report and review of literature.

Case Details

Disease Location

Right hepatic lobe

Personal Characteristics

54-year old african-american male; chronic hepatitis c infection; medical history included coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, peripheral neuropathy, chronic lumbago; meds include metoprolol, albuterol inhaler, oxycodone, hydrochlorothiazide, nitroglycerine, aspirin, gabapentin, doxazosin, ezetimibe, cyclobenzaprine

Clinical Characteristics

1- month history of abdominal pain at initial presentation; multiple diffuse hypodense lesions in right hepatic lobe with juxtadiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy on CT scan; lab analyses showed alfa fetoprotein elevated at 1,027 iu/ml, total protein 5.9 g/dl, albumin 2.7 g/dl. Total bilirubin .9 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 64 iu/l, aspartate aminotransferase 124 iu/l, and alanine aminotransferase 59 iu/l; liver biopsy showed morphologic features consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma; patient experienced hemorrhage following liver biopsy; CT scan 2 months after biopsy and diagnosis showed no change; patient admitted for abdominal pain and narcotics diagnosis after 2- months follow-up, at which time he reported consuming about a fifth of vodka per week;

Remission Characteristics

Admitted for pneumonia 22 months after 2- months follow up at which time it was discovered that hcc was in remission; continues to be in remission 4 years after initial diagnosis

Treatment & Mechanisms

Clinical Treatment

Conservative treatment of hemorrhage following liver biopsy