Abstract

SANTA, Catalina et al. Prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a maximum level of hospital care. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp.128-133. ISSN 0120-9957.

Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shortens survival significantly due to its usual late diagnosis. Objectives. Describe retrospectively the survival, clinical and biochemical characteristics in patients with a diagnosis of HCC. Patients and Methods. A retrospective study which included patients diagnosed with HCC was performed. The variables of interest were taken and the outcome was analyzed with a follow up of 6 month. The diagnosis of HCC was made in agreement with the criteria of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and histologic criteria in the cases were biopsies were available. Results. 35 patients were included. Twelve (34%) had HCC and 23 (66%) cirrhosis with HCC. The etiologies of the cirrhosis and HCC cases were alcohol (12, 52%), HBV (3, 13%), HCV (1, 4.3%), cryptogenic (5, 21.7%), NASH (1, 4.3%), and coexistence of HBV and alcohol (1, 4.3%). In agreement with the Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer criteria 5 patients received liver transplantation (14.3%), 3 (8.6%) surgical resection, 8 (22.9%) TACE and 19 (54.2%) palliative care. Twenty nine (83%) of the patients died. Conclusions. The majority of patients only received palliative therapy due to the late diagnosis which is related with a poor survival in this series, that’s why is important to search for health policies that permit a close follow up and screening for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. AFP levels are related with the survival of the patients independent of the treatment received.

Keywords : Cirrhosis; hepatocellular carcinoma.

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