A case of a super-elderly patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein invasion successfully treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

An 80-year-old man underwent a blood test and was tested positive for hepatitis C virus antibody in 2005; thereafter, he visited the hospital regularly every 3 months. In February 2015, when the patient was 90 years of age, his abdominal ultrasound examination revealed a hepatic tumor; subsequently, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). He was referred to our hospital in March 2015 because he wasn't suitable to hepatic resection due to elderly age. An indwelling port was inserted in the right femoral area, and a combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil hepatic arterial infusion and systemic interferon was administered. After three cycles of chemotherapy, his tumor marker values lowered to within the normal range and contrast-enhanced CT revealed regression of intrahepatic lesions and PVTT; this was classified as a complete response, according to the modified RECIST guidelines. The patient is alive without recurrence. Thus, this report describes the case of a 90-year-old man with advanced HCC and PVTT who was successfully treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.