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Factors affecting screening for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Farah Al Hasani1, Marina Knoepfli2, Armin Gemperli3
1Hepatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern. Switzerland.
Annals of Hepatology
|February 21, 2014
Summary
Regular screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) improves early diagnosis and curative treatment chances. Many at-risk patients, particularly those with cirrhosis, are not regularly screened, highlighting a need for improved surveillance program enrollment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer with prognosis heavily reliant on early detection.
- Surveillance programs are crucial for identifying at-risk individuals but face challenges in patient enrollment.
- Many patients with risk factors for HCC are not consistently screened.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing enrollment in HCC surveillance programs.
- To identify characteristics of patients participating in HCC surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patient characteristics within the prospective Bern HCC cohort (August 2010 - August 2011).
- Comparison of screened versus non-screened patients regarding demographics and clinical factors.
- Evaluation of enrollment rates in surveillance programs.
Main Results:
- Out of 82 patients, 48 were enrolled in surveillance. 35% of cirrhotic patients were unscreened.
- No significant differences in age, sex, education, Child-Pugh, or MELD scores between screened and unscreened groups.
- Patients with private insurance and those treated by liver specialists showed higher surveillance enrollment rates.
Conclusions:
- Surveillance for HCC enhances early diagnosis, increasing eligibility for curative treatments.
- Over one-third of cirrhotic patients were not regularly screened, indicating a gap in care.
- Referral of chronic liver disease patients to identify and enroll at-risk individuals in surveillance is recommended.
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