Complete disappearance of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination and splenic metastasis: A unique clinical course after surgery

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare phenomen on. We report a case of complete disappearance of intrahepatic, peritoneal and splenic metastases in HCC after hepatectomy using treatment with tegafu r and uracil (UFT). The effect of UFT alone was not likely to have caused t he disappearance of this tumour because HCC recurrence advance markedly wit hin 5 months of surgery despite oral administration of UFT. This case demon strates a unique postoperative clinical course that suggests spontaneous re gression of HCC. This is the first case of complete disappearance of unrese ctable HCC with peritoneal seeding and splenic metastasis. (C) 2000 Blackwe ll Science Asia Pty Ltd.