A retroperitoneal mass with elevated alpha-1-fetoprotein: not always a testicular carcinoma.
High levels of alpha-1-fetoprotein are usually associated with nonseminoma carcinoma of the testis or hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver. We describe a male patient with extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma who presented with a large retroperitoneal mass and extremely high alpha-1-fetoprotein levels. The importance of taking an adequate biopsy specimen cannot be emphasised enough since both prognosis and treatment are completely different.
Toonen
F
F
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Smilde
T
T
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011379:Prognosis; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D000077157:Sorafenib; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib