ISSN:
1436-2813
Keywords:
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
;
pseudoinfarction
;
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We report herein the case of a 65-year-old man with cirrhosis of the liver in whom a portal vein thrombus was found to be the cause of a marked elevation in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The patient presented with fever and abdominal pain, and a diagnostic work-up revealed a liver mass and an increased serum AFP concentration of 91000 ng/ml. The mass gradually regressed, and the AFP concentration simultaneously decreased to 163 ng/ml. However, because hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could not be ruled out, a partial hepatectomy was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed a thrombus of the portal vein surrounded by the fibrosis associated with liver cirrhosis, but no neoplastic lesion was found. Thus, portal thrombus associated with liver cirrhosis might induce an extremely high level of AFP production.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00311644
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