Hepatocellular carcinoma in China - Recent studies in pathology

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is a major hazard in China, the incidence is highest along the southeast coastal regions. The moan proportion of HCC in autopsy increased from 0.54% -4.5% in the past 50 years. Of the 500 HCC autopsies 84% were associated with. cirrhosis, 80 showed positive IIBsAg, some with IIBV-DNA. Karly detection and treatment of HCC in the subclinical stage is one of the current trend in China. The pathological features of 3CI1CC are: small, well differentiated encapsulated etc. It is different from clinical HCC(CHCC) in biological behaviors, degree of local inflammatory reaction, variations In the pathological background of liver etc Correlative study with over all survival rates were analysed. Transformation of non-re3ectable to resectable HCC following the multimodality treatments give much encouraging results of marked increase In 5 year survival rates, Shrinkage of tumor mass with necrosis, inflammatory reaction and formation of fibrous capsule are evident. Correlative study of tumnor necrosis and serum AFP level reveals that AFP may serve as an index for the evaluation of tumor necrosis and the effect of treatment.