title: [Case of hepatocellular carcinoma with a marked reduction in the tumor size induced by PSK administration alone].
abstract: A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of right abdominal pain. The edge of the liver was felt 4.5 fingers breadth below the xiphoid process. AFP was 20100 ng/ml and CEA was 5.6 ng/ml. The chest X-ray indicated existence of lymphangitis and some nodular density suggesting lung metastasis in the both lower-lung fields. 99mTc-phytate liver scan showed a large defect along the antero-inferior margin of the right hepatic lobe, which revealed an abnormal uptake of 67Ga-citrate. Ultrasonograms demonstrated a solid mass, 8 X 9 cm, in the right lobe of the liver. A CT-scan of the abdomen also showed a large, rounded, low attenuation mass with central necrosis in the right hepatic lobe: the pancreas and the remaining retroperitoneal structures appeared normal. Following the administration of PSK alone, 3 g daily, for three months, a remarkable regression of both hepatomegaly and lung metastasis was observed. Liver scan, ultrasonograms and CT-scan showed a striking resolution of the intrahepatic mass except central necrosis. AFP decreased to 33.7 ng/ml and CEA was 8.2 ng/ml. After about one year, however, ultrasonogramms showed a newly growing solid mass, 3.5 X 3.5 cm, in the left lobe of the liver. A needle biopsy specimen was taken from the intrahepatic mass, and it was interpreted as hepatoma. He is now healthy.
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C010770:polysaccharide-K