A Case of Spontaneous Regression of Advanced Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Spontaneous regression of any malignant tumor is a rare event, occurring in about 1 per 60, 000-100, 000 among the total number of cases of malignant tumor. We report a case of the spontaneous regression of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma with multiple pulmonary metastases.
The patient was a 75-year-old man who complained of dysphagia. He was found to have squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx with multiple pulmonary metastases. Since his airway was almost occluded by the tumor, tracheostomy was performed urgently. About two weeks later, while preparing for chemotherapy for the tumor, the primary tumor began to reduce without any treatment. Subsequently not only the primary tumor but also metastatic lesion continued to reduce spontaneously, and about four months later, they disappeared completely.
It is thought that elucidation of the mechanisms of spontaneous regression of malignant tumors could possibly lead to a more effective therapy for cancer.