A case of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma with bone metastasis

A 78-year-old Japanese man with chronic liver disease developed hypervascular liver tumors accompanied by marked elevation of alphafetoprotein value (the highest level; 26200 ng/ml) and pathologic fracture of the femur. After an operation for the fracture followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and repeated transfusions of blood, the tumors disappeared with normalization of the alpha-fetoprotein level, and the radiolucent area around the fracture site of the femur became consolidated. The necrotic tissue responsible for the fracture histologically showed an appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient survives 62 months after the initial increase in alpha-fetoprotein level. This is a case of spontaneous regression of both hypervascular liver tumors which are highly suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma and their metastasis.