title: Spontaneous regression of a breast carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: Spontaneous regression of malignant tumors is a rare event. It is defined as partial or total disappearance of a proven malignant tumor without adequate medical treatment. The causes of this phenomenon are various. Nevertheless, malignant tumors do regress occasionally for no apparent reason, as evidenced by many clinical observations. We report a case of a 68-year-old woman, who was presented with a several-month history of a painless firm lump, initially of 1 cm in diameter and growing to a large solid regular tumor of 2.5 x 2.5 cm in size, in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast. Preoperative histopathological diagnosis revealed ductal invasive carcinoma. Later on, while awaiting surgical treatment, she suffered an arm injury requiring a 1-month delay of surgery. After recovery, on the date of surgery the tumor disappeared, and, in addition, it was not found in tissue specimens obtained from quadrantectomy. After 78 months of follow-up there was no evidence of relapse. In this report, we discuss clinical and histopathological findings, patient management and possible mechanisms of cancer regression.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Martin, Slovakia. zubor@jfmed.uniba.sk
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Dussan
authors: Pavol
authors: P
authors: Zubor
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Fernandez
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Yabar
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Szunyogh
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Visnovsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous