[Serum-alpha 1-fetoprotein and serumferritin in liver tumours (author's transl)]

Serum-alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP) and serumferritin were evaluated in 22 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas as well as in 25 patients with metastatic liver cancer. In all cases the diagnosis was established histologically. 21 out of all patients (95.4%) with hepatocellular carcinomas had increased AFP values (greater than 9 ng/ml), but only 18 (81.8%) had increased AFP values, which were highly suggestive of hepatoma (greater than 174 ng/ml). 17 out of 22 patients (77.2%) with malignant hepatomas had increased serumferritin levels ((greater than 343 ng/ml). In 4 patients (18.2%) with hepatocellular carcinomas, which had uncharacteristically low AFP values, increased serumferritin levels indicated malignoma. In patients with metastatic liver cancer AFP was increased in 7 (28%). Serumferritin levels were increased in 22 out of 25 patients (88%). Combining the results of these two tumour markers detection of liver cancer can be increased highly. However, serumferritin has to be regarded as an unspecific tumour marker, which does not allow a differentialdiagnosis between primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer.