Early Screening of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients: a Prospective Study

Early Screening of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients: a Prospective Study

Although serum alpha-fetoprotein level and abdominal sonography are the main methods to screening hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients, the adequate time and methods used are not completely well-defined. This study aims to assess the better timing and methods for prospectively screening HCC in patients with cirrhosis

Well-diagnosed consecutive patients with cirrhosis were enrolled through a designed questionnaire to obtain basic information about gender, age, etiology of cirrhosis, conventional liver function tests, serum AFP level, education level, substance use including smoking, alcohol drinking, betel quid chewing, history of familial HCC, etc. Then the patients was followed by periodic abdominal sonography examination and determination of AFP and liver function. If AFP elevated or liver nodule appears, effort to diagnose HCC will be performed.If HCC was performed, the survival will be followed-up. As anti-viral therapy was found to decrease risk for HCC, patients with those therapy will be excluded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Image diagnosis or biochemical diagnosis or presence of portal hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of hepatocellular carcinoma