ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
hepatocellular carcinoma
;
tamoxifen
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We describe a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after long termtamoxifen therapy in a 71-year-old woman. The patient was prescribed tamoxifenfor 12 years following right mastectomy and axillary node clearance for breastcarcinoma in 1985. In 1997, she complained of abdominal pain and fullness. Anabdominal ultrasound scan showed lesions in the right lobe of liver which werethought to be metastases. However, a biopsy showed primary HCC. Studies inrats suggest that tamoxifen is involved in hepatic carcinogenesis but studiesin humans have failed to show any increased risk. However, these studiesfollowed up patients for less than five years. An increased risk of HCC maynot become apparent until after a decade or more of tamoxifen therapy. Inaddition, HCC in tamoxifen treated patients may be under-reported since theremay be reluctance to biopsy liver tumours which are assumed to be secondarycarcinoma of the breast.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008354429921
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