Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- ADRIAN M. DI BISCEGLIE, M.D.;
- VINOD K. RUSTGI, M.D.;
- JAY H. HOOFNAGLE, M.D.;
- GEOFFREY M. DUSHEIKO, M.D.; and
- MICHAEL T. LOTZE, M.D.
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent cancer worldwide, responsible for approximately 1 000 000 deaths annually, most of them in the Far East and in sub-Saharan Africa. It usually presents at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis. There is strong evidence of an etiologic role for hepatitis B virus infection in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Carriers of the virus are 94 times more at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma than noncarriers. In many cases hepatitis B virus DNA is integrated within the cellular genome of the tumor. Programs have been established to detect hepatocellular carcinoma at an early stage; persons at high risk are regularly screened by measurement of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and ultrasound examination of the liver. Surgical resection offers the only hope of cure at present, as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy have not shown promise. Ideally, surgery should be done on small asymptomatic tumors.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited summary of a combined Clinical Staff Conference held 3 December 1986 at the Amphitheater, Building 10, Bethesda, Maryland, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of the conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:
RUSTGI VK. Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma, pp 390-391. In: DI BISCEGLIE AM, moderator. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Intern Med. 1988;108:390-401.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Wendy Schubert; Clinical Center Communication, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 1C255; Bethesda, MD 20892.
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