[Malignant hepatoma (clinical, biological and morphological comparisons)]

The authors make an analysis of 8 cases of malignant hepatoma discovered in 20 362 surgical patients between 1965 and 1975. The analysis of these cases allowed to conclude as follows: 1). In the presence of chronic digestive disturbances, or of hepato-splenomegaly, accompanied by progressive deterioration of the general condition of the patient, and of the use of large amounts of analgetic drugs, one should consider more than usually the possibility of hepatic neoplasia. 2). The first element to be considered in the frame of diagnosis of malignant hepatomas should be the morphological one. Of practical value in the diagnostic are the following: hepatic scintigraphy, angiography and bioptic laparotomy. 3). Of the conventional biologic tests (including the immunological tests), evaluation of serum alpha-foetoprotein is the only one with an orientative diagnostic value.