The development of successful treatment regimens for germ cell tumours has been one of the important advances in cancer chemotherapy. The effects of such treatment are monitored by measurement of serum concentrations of the tumour markers (alpha) fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin, as well as clinical and radiological assessment. The persistence of raised concentrations of (alpha) fetoprotein during or after treatment requires urgent investigation to delineate teratoma resistant to chemotherapy. We report on a patient with testicular teratoma who relapsed after initial chemotherapy in whom appreciably raised serum concentrations of (alpha) fetoprotein did not fall despite apparently successful salvage chemotherapy and surgery. An exhaustive search for a further residuum of disease was not fruitful. The finding of raised liver enzyme activities and hepatomegaly led to a liver biopsy, which showed alcoholic hepatitis. The patient decreased his alcohol intake, resulting in normalisation of his (alpha) fetoprotein concentration and liver enzyme activities.