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A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: September 30, 2021
Hepatitis C prevalence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis
Mohammad F Madhoun1, Javid Fazili, Brianna C Bright
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA. mohammad-madhoun@ouhsc.edu
Background:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurring in "noncirrhotic" hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients has been reported; but the exact prevalence or incidence has not been described before.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review of literature: Ovid was used to search the literature from January 1, 1990, to September 1, 2008. Articles containing "HCC" keywords (hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, liver cancer) were combined with the word "cirrhosis" or "fibrosis" and with "absence" keywords [noncirrhotic, absence, without]. Two hundred articles were selected and screened according to predesigned exclusion and inclusion criteria.
Results:
Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The estimated prevalence of noncirrhotic HCC ranged from 6.7% to 50.1%. The pooled prevalence estimates for HCV in noncirrhotic HCC ranged from 0% and 68.4% according to the geographic location. Reports from Japan had the highest estimated pooled prevalence of HCV (55.01%) followed by Italy (29.95%).
Conclusion:
HCV can occur in patients with HCC without cirrhosis, but the true incidence and prevalence are very difficult to ascertain. Further studies are needed to define this group of patients.
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