Profile of the hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with diagnosis of chronic C hepatitis <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: To determine the profile of the patients with diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic C hepatitis at HSL-PUCRS. Methods: Transversal study with data obtained from medical records. In a 24 months period the medical records of all patients who had alfa-fetoproteins dosed at HSL clinical pathology laboratory were reviewed. All those who had the diagnosis of HCC and HCV infection were included. Results: 28 cases of HCC associated with HCV infection were identified. All patients had signs of chronic hepatic disease. 28.5%, however, were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. A non invasive criterion for diagnosis was used in 64.3% of the patients. The serum dosage of alfa-fetoproteins was higher than 400 ng/mL in 67.8% of the patients and the combination of two image methods was used in 60.7%. 78.5% of the tumors were nodular and 57.1% located at the right lobe. In 25% the diagnosis was done at an early stage, with possibility of curative treatment. In half the patients no specific tumor treatment was indicated because they were staged as advanced disease. Conclusions: The profile of the patients with HCC and chronic HCV is similar to other occidental populations described at the literature. Two variables differed from the literature: the high rate of HCC diagnosed at an early stage and with possibility of curative treatment and the greater percentage of cases diagnosed in asymptomatic patients. KEY WORDS: HEPATOCELLULAR, CARCINOMA; HEPATITIS C, CHRONIC/epidemiology; ALFA-FETOPROTEINS.