A high risk group of hepatocellular carcinoma in man, with special reference to its clinical significance for the screening of early liver cancer. Gifu Study Group for Early Liver Cancer

• Published in: Nippon Shōkakibyō Gakkai zasshi Vol. 86; no. 12; p. 2833
• Main Authors: Muto, Y, Moriwaki, H, Shimazaki, M, Fukutomi, Y, Adachi, S, Kawai, K, Okuno, M, Hoshiyama, N, Yamada, M, Shimizu, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.12.1989
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Japan; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - prevention & control; Male; Mass Screening; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Japan
• ISSN: 0446-6586
• DOI: 10.11405/nisshoshi1964.86.2833

A high risk group of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was statistically established using multiple regression analysis of 331 cases with liver cirrhosis (LC), in which 78 cases later developed HCC. Highly contributing factors to hepatocarcinogenesis were found to be positive HBsAg, age, drinking history, sex (male), history of blood transfusion, history of acute hepatitis (or jaundice) and elevated plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein. A prospective study was initiated in April, 1985 employing another 122 LC patients to clinically evaluate the significance of the high risk group of HCC. 28 cases with small HCC (less than 3 cm in diameter) were newly found: 4 with chronic hepatitis and 24 with LC, among whom 22 developed from the high risk group (sensitivity 92%, specificity 44%). Three year survival rate of 28 cases thus found was 56%, and causes of death of 9 fatal patients were 4 cancer death, 4 hepatic failure and 1 gastrointestinal bleeding. In conclusion, the high risk group is valuable for the screening of early liver cancers, and treatments of hepatic failure as well as of HCC itself are important to improve the prognosis of HCC patients thus diagnosed.