Two patients with liver cirrhosis who presented with alpha-fetoprotein values diagnostic of hepatocarcinoma but without evidence of neoplasms
Cristani, A.; Borghi, A.; Cioni, G.; Vignoli, A.; Ventura, E.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina 83(5): 286-287
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-1193 PMID: 1279760 Document Number: 396490
Two liver cirrhosis (LC) patients with all major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had, at presentation, serum alfa-fetoprotein levels (AFP) higher than 500 ng/ml, usually considered diagnostic for HCC. They had elevated serum ALT levels too. No neoplastic liver lesions were detected by imaging techniques in both cases. During the following three months we noted a progressive improvement of clinical conditions with contextual normalization of AFP and ALT values. Therefore we suggest, when AFP is strongly elevated in LC patients but no hepatic lesion is detectable, a check for AFP and ALT time-course, before diagnosis HCC.