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Primary hepatic carcinoma. Its incidence and relationship to HBsAg
Insights
Primary hepatic carcinoma is rare, occurring in 1 in 4,080 admissions. This study reviewed 43 cases diagnosed between 1971-1976, noting patient demographics and common co-occurring conditions like cirrhosis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Primary hepatic carcinoma is a significant global health concern.
- Understanding its incidence and patient characteristics is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies have highlighted varying prevalence rates across different populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of primary hepatic carcinoma.
- To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with primary hepatic carcinoma.
- To investigate the association between cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patient records from Michael Reese Hospital (1971-1976).
- Analysis of 175,953 hospital discharges to identify cases of primary hepatic carcinoma.
- Collection of data on patient age, race, co-existing conditions (cirrhosis), and serological markers (HBsAg, Ab).
Main Results:
- Primary hepatic carcinoma occurred in 43 admissions (1 in 4,080), significantly less frequent than primary colonic carcinoma (1 in 193).
- Patients ranged from 3 to 80 years (mean 60.25); 21 unique patients were identified.
- Twelve patients had cirrhosis, with at least eight having micronodular cirrhosis. Limited HBsAg/Ab data was available; one patient was positive for both.
Conclusions:
- Primary hepatic carcinoma is a rare diagnosis with a low incidence rate.
- Cirrhosis is a common comorbidity in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of viral markers in this patient population.
Abstract:
The records of all patients with primary hepatic carcinoma diagnosed between 1971 and 1976 at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago were reviewed. Of 175,953 discharges only 43 were for primary hepatic carcinoma; one for 4,080 admissions as compared to one per 193 admissions for primary colonic carcinoma. The patients ranged in age from three to 80 years with a mean age of 60.25 years. Twenty-one patients were represented by the 43 admissions. Twelve patients were black, eight were caucasian, while 12 patients were found to have cirrhosis of which at least eight patients had micronodular cirrhosis. Since this was a retrospective study only 12 patients had HBsAg and Ab determinations. One was positive for both antigen and antibody, while one was positive for antigen only and one for antibody only. Tissue diagnosis revealed hepatocellular carcinoma in 19 patients and cholangiocellular carcinoma in two. Most patients lived on to three years after diagnosis.