[Relationship between ultrasound-findings of low-echoic nodule of hepatic parenchyma in liver cirrhosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma].

We investigated development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 90 patients with liver cirrhosis by follow up study for a period from 6 months to three and half years, making special reference to ultrasound-findings of the parenchyma of the liver. Liver cirrhosis was classified into four types and two, non-nodular and nodular, groups according to low-echoic nodules distributed in the parenchyma. The development of HCC was higher at the rate of incidence in patients of the nodular group than those of the non-nodular. It was more closely related with the male in patients of the non-nodular group, and both the old age and the advanced hepatic injury in those of the nodular group. A rise of the level of serum AFP during a period of the follow up was not observed in relation to the development of HCC and seemed to be ineffective for detection of carcinoma small sized. The echo-types of the parenchyma in liver cirrhosis were most significantly correlated with the development of HCC in comparison with the other etiologic factors.