Spontaneous regression of lung cancer is a very rare and poorly understood phenomenon. A 64-year-old man presented to Dong-A University Hospital with a shrunken nodule in the right lower lobe. Although the nodule showed a high likelihood of malignancy on needle aspiration biopsy, the patient refused surgery. The nodule spontaneously regressed completely in the next 17 months. However, the subcarinal lymph node was found to be enlarged 16 months after complete regression was observed. We pathologically confirmed metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma and performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemoradiation. Regardless of tumor size reduction, it is preferable to perform surgery aggressively in cases of operable lung cancer.
Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous

We report two rare cases of spontaneously regressed Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC). A 52-year-old woman presented with headache. A pituitary hormone study was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 0.45-cm³ cystic sellar lesion. The cyst was hyperintense on T1-weighed imaging and hypointense on T2-weighted imaging without rim enhancement, comparable to a RCC. Six months later, brain MRI showed no change in the cyst size. Without any medical treatments, brain MRI 1 year later revealed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to 0.05 cm³. A 34-year-old woman presented with headache and galactorrhea lasting 1 week. At the time of the visit, the patient's headache had disappeared. Her initial serum prolactin level was 81.1 ng/mL, and after 1 week without the cold medicine, the serum prolactin level normalized to 11.28 ng/mL. Brain MRI showed a RCC measuring 0.71 cm³. Without further treatments, brain computed tomography 6 months later showed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to 0.07 cm³. Another 6 months later, brain MRI revealed that the cyst had remained the same size. Neither patient experienced neurological symptoms, such as headache or visual disturbance, during the period of cyst reduction. The RCCs in both patients underwent spontaneous regression without any medical treatment during a period of 6 months to 1 year. Although spontaneous regression of a RCC is rare, it is still possible and a sufficient follow-up period should be considered.
Adult ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Cysts ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Galactorrhea ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with alcohol abstinence, herbal medication, radiation, ischemia and immune reaction against systemic or local infections. Herein, we report a case of 67-year-old man with spontaneous disappearance of HCC after local infection as a rare cause. The patient had no clinical symptoms except for markedly increased tumor marker of HCC (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II: 731 mAU/mL). On computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, massive infiltrating HCC with portal vein invasion was confirmed. During conservative treatment, he was admitted due to suppurative diabetic foot. After medical treatment, HCC disappeared on follow-up CT scans, along with change in hepatic contour. The disappearance of HCC might be a result of immune response by treatment of the diabetic foot and that of ischemia by portal vein tumor thrombosis secondarily. We summarized case reports regarding spontaneous regression of HCC by infection and ischemia.
Aged ; Alcohol Abstinence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diabetic Foot ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Portal Vein ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vitamin K

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a cancer that shows aggressive behavior, early spread to distant sites, and frequent association with distinct paraneoplastic syndromes. Spontaneous remission of cancer, particularly of SCLC, is a rare biological event. Cases involving spontaneous regression of SCLC were reported, and were associated with paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system. This article reports on a 78-year-old man with SCLC in remission, with neurological symptoms. The patient visited the hospital because of generalized weakness, and imaging studies revealed a mass in the lower lobe of the left lung, pathological evaluation showed SCLC. The patient refused oncologic treatment and was treated only with conservative care. In follow-up study the diameter of the mass had decreased from initial 32 mm, 9 months after admission to 20 mm, 17 months after admission to 13 mm. The patient kept complaining of generalized weakness, dizziness, and paresthesia of limbs. We assumed that, in this case, the spontaneous remission of lung cancer was related to the immunologic response directed against the tumor, which is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes.
Aged ; Dizziness ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System ; Paresthesia ; Remission, Spontaneous* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

Although gastric hyperplastic polyps are recognized as benign lesions, there is concern regarding carcinomatous changes in the polyps, depending on their size. If the polyp size is larger than 1.0~2.0 cm, endoscopic resection is usually recommended. Gastric hyperplastic polyps easily undergo changes in their shape and size over time. However, spontaneous regression of hyperplastic polyps is very rare. We present a recent case wherein gastric hyperplastic polyps disappeared spontaneously. We present the case along with a literature review.
Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Polyps* ; Stomach

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a cancer that shows aggressive behavior, early spread to distant sites, and frequent association with distinct paraneoplastic syndromes. Spontaneous remission of cancer, particularly of SCLC, is a rare biological event. Cases involving spontaneous regression of SCLC were reported, and were associated with paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system. This article reports on a 78-year-old man with SCLC in remission, with neurological symptoms. The patient visited the hospital because of generalized weakness, and imaging studies revealed a mass in the lower lobe of the left lung, pathological evaluation showed SCLC. The patient refused oncologic treatment and was treated only with conservative care. In follow-up study the diameter of the mass had decreased from initial 32 mm, 9 months after admission to 20 mm, 17 months after admission to 13 mm. The patient kept complaining of generalized weakness, dizziness, and paresthesia of limbs. We assumed that, in this case, the spontaneous remission of lung cancer was related to the immunologic response directed against the tumor, which is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes.
Aged ; Dizziness ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System ; Paresthesia ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Spontaneous regression of squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare event. We report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma in the lacrimal sac which showed spontaneous regression without any treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old woman presented with epiphora and ocular discharge from the right eye. Under the diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, we performed dacryocystorhinostomy. Two years after the surgery, the patient presented again with severe epiphora and ocular pain accompanied by proptosis and adduction limitation in the right eye. Computed tomography demonstrated a mass occupying the right lacrimal sac and incisional biopsy showed poorly differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Additional treatment was recommended, but the patient denied any treatments. At 6 months after the biopsy, the medial orbital wall was partially destructed. On positron emission tomography/computed tomography, metastasis was suspected in the cervical, para-aortic, sub-carinal, and peri-esophageal lymph nodes. However, at 15 months after the biopsy, the orbital tumor had almost disappeared. On positron emission tomography/computed tomography, fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was reduced in all areas including the cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: This case exhibited a generally natural course of a malignant tumor, including medial orbital wall destruction and lymph node metastasis. However, the course then improved naturally without any treatment. The reason for the spontaneous regression of squamous cell carcinoma is still unclear but might be due to complex effects of one or several factors.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Diagnosis ; Electrons ; Epithelial Cells* ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Orbit

A 57-year-old woman presented with cough and dyspnea for 2 months. Computed tomography of the chest showed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs. Histologic examination via thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed atypical lymphoproliferative lesion. Her symptoms and radiologic findings of the chest improved just after lung biopsy without any treatment. Therefore, she was discharged and monitored at an outpatient clinic. Two months later, pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was confirmed by the detection of API2-MALT1 translocation in fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. Although the lung lesions resolved spontaneously, she received chemotherapy due to bone marrow involvement in her staging workup. Pulmonary MALT lymphoma is rare. Nodular or consolidative patterns are the most frequent radiologic findings. Although the disease has an indolent growth, it rarely resolves without treatment. We report an unusual case of pulmonary MALT lymphoma with diffuse interstitial abnormalities on image and spontaneous regression on clinical course.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Cough ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Thorax

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver malignancy. Spontaneous regression of HCC is extremely rare phenomenon and mechanism of regression remains ob-scure. 75-year-old woman previously diagnosed with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis was found to have single mass in liver with elevation of alpha-fetoprotein level to 10,320 ng/mL. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed. 27 months after TACE recurred HCC with multiple lung nodules were confirmed. The patient refused any therapeutic modality. The patient underwent follow-up without any anti-cancer treatment. 8 months after recur-rence follow up computed tomography scan revealed spontaneous regression of HCC and completely disappeared lung nodules. The patient is currently doing well and without any evidence of recurrence. The causes of spontaneous regression of HCC are not well understood. Proposed mechanisms are ischemic injury, biological factors, herbal medicine, immunological variations. Further studies are necessary to improve our understanding of this rare phenom-enon.
Aged ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Biological Factors ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis C ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Recurrence

A 44-year-old male was followed-up with esophagogastroduodenoscopy due to an esophageal submucosal tumor. On the lesser curvature of the gastric low body, a 0.5 cm sized round elevated lesion with hyperemia was noticed. Two pieces of biopsy were taken from this lesion for histopathologic examination. Histology showed Langerhans cell infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD1a antigen, which confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. There was no evidence of other organ involvement. The lesions spontaneously disappeared 4 months later without any treatment. We report a very rare case of gastric Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Male ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Stomach