Epidemiology and Characteristics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Southern Romania

Lucian Buligescu, Laura Cojocaru, Laurentiu Micu

Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Fundeni Hospital

Abstract

We analysed over a period of 12 months 265 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), diagnosed by ultrasonography and by detection of high serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein in cirrhotics. Male gender represented 69.05% of cases. We noted statistically significant differences between HCC patients, with and without liver cirrhosis, regarding mean age (older patients in the group with liver cirrhosis) and etiology, with a lower percentage of cases with HCV as compared with HBV infection in the group without liver cirrhosis. The mean period of time from diagnosis of cirrhosis to HCC detection was 4.1+/- 1.7 years. The main etiological factors of HCC were represented by liver cirrhosis and hepatitis viruses (HBV = 39.62%; HCV = 37.73%). The demographic characteristics of HCC patients were also analyzed with respect to the number, size and histological type of liver tumors. The mean period of survival from the moment of diagnosis was 5.8±1.3 months.