Hydrogen gas therapy induced shrinkage of metastatic gallbladder cancer: A case report

Table 1 Clinical details and therapeutic procedure

Date		Therapy
2017	December	(A) Symptoms of upper right quadrant distension pain and discomfort were aggravated; (B) Color doppler ultrasound: gallbladder tumor, local liver invasion, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes; (C) Gallbladder tumor aspiration biopsy: gallbladder cancer
2018	January 5	(A) Irreversible electroporation ablation of the gallbladder and hilar lymph nodes; (B) Started oral 5-FU (20 mg bid); (C) Infusion of red blood cells for anemia
	April	CT examination: gallbladder tumors and hilar lymph nodes showed liquefactive necrosis after treatment
	September 20–October 8	(A) Routine blood tests and tumor markers; (B) CT examination: gallbladder tumor invaded the descending duodenum; inferior vena cava was compressed; (C) Infusion of red blood cells for anemia
	October 24	(A) CT examination: gallbladder tumor enlarged, multiple spotted metastases found in the liver, and multiple lymph nodes around the pancreatic head; (B) Started hydrogen gas therapy
	November 26	(A) CT examination: gallbladder and intrahepatic tumors enlarged, duodenal bowel obstruction; (B) Gastrointestinal decompression and intravenous nutrition support
	December 10–24	(A) Routine blood tests and tumor markers; (B) Gastric tube removed, the patient gradually began taking semi-liquid food, and her spirit, appetite, and sleep were good
2019	January 8–11	(A) Routine blood tests and tumor markers; (B) CT examination: gallbladder and intrahepatic tumors, lymph nodes around the pancreatic head all shrank significantly, and obstruction was markedly relieved

CT: Computed tomography.

Table 2 Tumor sizes before and after hydrogen gas treatment

	Gallbladder	Liver metastases	Lymph node around the pancreas head	Sum of the tumor diameters
Pretreatment	6.3 cm × 4.9 cm	3.2 cm × 2.6 cm	2.7 cm × 2.1 cm	12.2 cm
1 mo after treatment	6.7 cm × 6.3 cm	4.2 cm × 4.0 cm (large) 3.6 cm × 3.2 cm (small)	2.2 cm × 1.8 cm	16.7 cm
2.5 mo after treatment	3.7 cm × 3.6 cm	4.0 cm × 3.3 cm (large) 3.2 cm × 2.8 cm (small)	2.0 cm × 1.6 cm	12.9 cm