title: Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: A surgically unresectable, biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in a 63-year-old man with cirrhosis. He survived 24 months without treatment. During that time the tumor burden decreased as demonstrated both radiologically and by the normalization of alpha-fetoprotein levels. The patient died of complications secondary to repeated esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Necropsy demonstrated prominent, ulcerated esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis without evidence of neoplasia either grossly or on a subsequent thorough microscopic examination. This case represents the first confirmation of HCC spontaneous regression in which a primary histologic diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric DNA analysis, and where tumor regression was proven by a thorough necropsy examination.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gaffey
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000473:pathology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous