Spontaneous regression of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

Spontaneous regression of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma is extremely rare. A 66-year-old Taiwanese male patient with liver cirrhosis related to chronic hepatitis C presented with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis. At first, he refused curative therapy, except for silymarin medicine. Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred with a decline in tumour size and tumour marker in imaging studies. The patient agreed to undergo surgery approximately 14 months after presentation because of no further decrease in tumour size and an increase in tumour marker in the imaging studies. The resected tumour was hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thromboses. Presently, the patient is alive and in good condition without any symptoms or tumour recurrence. We concluded that this was a rare case of spontaneous regression of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.