High alpha-fetoprotein level in HCV-related nodular liver cell dysplasia

The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is generally made in patients wit h a mass lesion in the cirrhotic liver if the alpha-fetoprotein level is >1 ,000 ng/L. Other causes of elevation of alpha-fetoprotein to this extreme d egree include nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and hepatic metastasis. Howev er, it is extremely rare for benign hepatic lesions to cause alpha-fetoprot ein of >1,000 ng/ml. We report a Chinese patient with spontaneous normaliza tion of alpha-fetoprotein with an initial value >10,000 ng/ml due to nodula r dysplasia complicating hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis. The alpha-fet oprotein was secreted from the dysplastic liver cells. (Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:2296-2297. (C) 1999 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology).