title: High alpha-fetoprotein level in HCV-related nodular liver cell dysplasia.
abstract: The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is generally made in patients with a mass lesion in the cirrhotic liver if the alpha-fetoprotein level is >1,000 ng/L. Other causes of elevation of alpha-fetoprotein to this extreme degree include nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and hepatic metastasis. However, it is extremely rare for benign hepatic lesions to cause alpha-fetoprotein of > 1,000 ng/ml. We report a Chinese patient with spontaneous normalization of alpha-fetoprotein with an initial value > 10,000 ng/ml due to nodular dysplasia complicating hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis. The alpha-fetoprotein was secreted from the dysplastic liver cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ruttonjee Hospital, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kng
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins