Nasir Khokhar1, Ishma Aijazi, Muzaffar Latif Gill. 1. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Shifa International Hospital, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad. drnkhokhar@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review etiological and clinical features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at a tertiary care centre in past nine years. Relevant data on HCC in other parts of country and world were reviewed. METHODS: Patients who had biopsy proven HCC were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic features were noted and positivity for serology. presence of cirrhosis. level of alpha-fetoprotein, tumour size and distribution of liver lesions were noted. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were found to have biopsy proven HCC. Mean age was 58.64 +/- 12.77 years. Males were 79%. Hepatitis B surface antigen was noted to be positive in 23% of the patients, who were tested and hepatitis C antibody was found to be positive in 67% of the patients who were tested. Alpha fetoprotein level was 632.09 +/- 1332.31. Cirrhosis was noted in 69% patients. Tumour size in patients with single lesion was 6.6 +/- 1.14 cm. Patients with single lesion had 70% time involvement of the left lobe and 30% times had involvement of the right lobe. Fifty one percent of the patients in this series had multilocular distribution. CONCLUSION: Hepatocellular carcinoma has become a common tumour in Pakistan and studies are showing that this cancer is related to hepatitis C virus infection in majority of the patients. A large number of them have underlying cirrhosis and are multifocal in origin and are presented in an advanced condition.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review etiological and clinical features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at a tertiary care centre in past nine years. Relevant data on HCC in other parts of country and world were reviewed. METHODS:Patients who had biopsy proven HCC were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic features were noted and positivity for serology. presence of cirrhosis. level of alpha-fetoprotein, tumour size and distribution of liver lesions were noted. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were found to have biopsy proven HCC. Mean age was 58.64 +/- 12.77 years. Males were 79%. Hepatitis B surface antigen was noted to be positive in 23% of the patients, who were tested and hepatitis C antibody was found to be positive in 67% of the patients who were tested. Alpha fetoprotein level was 632.09 +/- 1332.31. Cirrhosis was noted in 69% patients. Tumour size in patients with single lesion was 6.6 +/- 1.14 cm. Patients with single lesion had 70% time involvement of the left lobe and 30% times had involvement of the right lobe. Fifty one percent of the patients in this series had multilocular distribution. CONCLUSION:Hepatocellular carcinoma has become a common tumour in Pakistan and studies are showing that this cancer is related to hepatitis C virus infection in majority of the patients. A large number of them have underlying cirrhosis and are multifocal in origin and are presented in an advanced condition.