Hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines: a clinicopathological study of 150 cases

Clinicopathological features were examined in 150 hepatocellular carcinoma cases autopsied from 1977 to 1983 in the Philippines and were compared to those of cases reported in Japan. The characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines were as follows. 1. The age of autopsied patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines was approximately 10 years younger than in Japan. The Philippines cases included even 10- to 11-year-old patients. 2. The macroscopic type of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines consisted predominantly of the massive type of Eggel's classification. On the other hand, an encapsulated tumor was found in only one case. 3. The histological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines were not especially well defined. Hyaline globules and fatty metamorphosis were found in 1 and 12, respectively, of 90 Philippine hepatocellular carcinoma cases. 4. The frequency of HBs antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma in the Philippines was 37%. This is almost equal to that in Japan.