Liver cancer screening in a high-risk population in China fails to reduce mortality

Abstract

Question Does liver cancer screening reduce mortality from the disease in a high-risk Chinese population? Study design Cluster randomised controlled trial. Main results In people at high risk of liver cancer, screening did not significantly reduce the incidence of primary liver cancer or risk of death compared with no screening (see Table 1), despite earlier detection of the disease (see notes). Table 1 Primary liver cancer incidence and mortality rates in a high-risk Chinese population. Screened ( N=3712) Not screened ( N=1869) p value Number of primary liver cancer cases 257 (7%) 117 (6%) Incidence rate † 1341 1195 0.30 Deaths from primary liver cancer 218 (6%) 109 (6%) Mortality rate † 1138 1113 0.86 †Per 100,000 person years. Authors’ conclusions Liver cancer screening in a high-risk population in China does not reduce mortality from the disease.