title: Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a cirrhotic patient: possible vascular hypothesis.
abstract: Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma is extremely rare, and the exact pathogenesis leading to this remarkable phenomenon remains unclear. We describe a case of spontaneous regression of an incidentally discovered hepatocellular carcinoma in a 63-year-old man with hepatitis C cirrhosis. The regression followed a series of events, in particular, an upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Ischaemic insult may be a major pathway leading to tumour regression. As limited data is available in the literature, knowledge and recognition of this rare event will have implications for patient management and may alter treatment. Further, data may be useful to assess if these patients have an altered prognosis with improved survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. ssheikh@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastawrous
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kogut
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed