Hepatic tumors in a Saudi patients population

Cytological diagnosis of one hundred and fifteen patients who had fine needle aspiration (FNA) of liver masses during the period from January 1987 to December 1993 was reviewed. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the most common diagnosis in 87 patients (76%) with a male predominance of 82%, HBsAg and HCV antibodies were positive in 46 and 62% of patients, respectively. HBcAb was positive in 87% of patients. The median alphafetoprotein (AFP) level was 902 ng/ml. Sixty-two patients had AFP more than 200 ng/ml (normal range up to 8 ng/ml). Abdominal pain and liver mass were the most common clinical presentations in 88 and 90%, respectively. Raised ALT and AST were noted in 78 and 93%, respectively. Sixty-two percent of patients had low serum albumin less than 35 g/L. In conclusion, HCC was the predominant finding in patients presenting with liver mass. HCV antibodies were frequently associated with HCC. AFP of 200 ng/ml or more was diagnostic of HCC in those patients and may negate further histological confirmation in those who are moribund or have serious coagulation disorders.