Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic liver: Clinicopathological differences

Abstract

Objectives The present study aimed to explore the differences between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that arise in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic liver in terms of the demographical, clinical, and pathological parameters. Background HCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Its overall incidence has increased progressively in the last two decades. Cirrhosis from any cause remains one of the strongest known risk factors for HCC. However, HCC also occurs in noncirrhotic livers. Materials and methods This study investigated the demographical and clinicopathological differences between 86 cases of HCC in cirrhotic liver and 17 cases of HCC in noncirrhotic liver. Results The main differences between the groups studied were the predominance of men among the patients with HCC in noncirrhotic livers (P = 0.04) and the large size of the tumor mass in the same group (P = 0.04) in comparison with HCC in cirrhotic livers. Conclusion The present study shows that HCCs arising in cirrhotic livers do not differ considerably from those occurring without cirrhosis in most demographical, clinical, and pathological criteria. However, the large size of HCC in noncirrhotic livers could be because of its late detection.