Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main malignant tumor of the liver, is very common and highly lethal. The aim of this study was to determine its clinicopathologic characteristics and risk factors in Turkey. In this study, patients who were diagnosed as suffering from HCC in the period between August 2004 and December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 98 patients were included, with a median age 61 (range: 16 to 82). Seventy nine (80.6%) were male 59 (60.2%) were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 15 (15.3%) with HCV, another 15 (15.3%) being alcohol abusers. Seventy two (73.5%) were at advanced stage and 54 (55.1%) had elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Surgery, chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy and application of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib were the major treatment options. According to our findings HCC is mostly diagnosed in advanced stage and age, being five times more common in males than females. Main risk factors of HCC are HBV infection, HCV infection and alcohol abuse. Elevation in AFP may facilitate early diagnosis of HCC in high risk groups.
Highlights
Primary liver cancer is one of the most common, and highly lethal malignant tumors worldwide
The reasons of rising incidence predominantly attributed to the increasing prevelance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) due to immigration from eastern countries to westhern countries
Fifty nine (60.2%) patients were infected by HBV, fifteen (15.3%) patients were infected by HCV and two (2.0%) patients were infected by hepatitis D virus (HDV)
Summary
Primary liver cancer is one of the most common, and highly lethal malignant tumors worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) forms aproximately 80% of all primary tumors of liver. It has high incidence rate which is sixth most common cancer in males and ninth most common cancer in females (Jemal et al, 2009). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main malignant tumor of the liver, is very common and highly lethal. Conclusions: According to our findings HCC is mostly diagnosed in advanced stage and age, being five times more common in males than females. Main risk factors of HCC are HBV infection, HCV infection and alcohol abuse. Elevation in AFP may facilitate early diagnosis of HCC in high risk groups
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