Alpha-Foetoprotein-producing Primary Rectal Adenocarcinoma

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R Koul, R Senno, A Dubey

Hong Kong J Radiol 2009;12:16-9

This report is of a 44-year-old woman with an alpha-foetoprotein–producing rectal adenocarcinoma. At presentation, her serum alpha-foetoprotein was 158,334 μg/L, and investigation excluded other causes, such as gynaecological malignancy, hepatocellular carcinoma, germ cell tumour, or hepatoid adenocarcinoma. The patient developed early distant metastasis despite treatment with 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy. Further chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab resulted in radiologically stable primary tumour and liver metastases 12 months after treatment.