Abstract
We studied the outcomes of 114 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detected during clinical follow-up for chronic liver diseases. In these patients, ultrasonography was performed at 3- to 4-month intervals and tumor markers were measured at 1- to 4-months intervals. The patients were divided into three groups according to the ages at the time of diagnosis (group I: 59 years or less, group II: 60-69 years, group III: 70 years or more). The 7-year survival rates in patients in groups I, II and III were 41.7%, 21.9% and 13.3%, respectively. In liver cirrhosis C or chronic hepatitis C, the 7- year survival rates in patients with solitary small (3.0cm or less in diameter) HCC nodule in groups I, II and III were 41.7%, 43.1% and 15.0%, respectively. The outcome of the patients in group III was significantly worse than those of the patients in other groups. Although the patients with HCC detected in small size (solitary nodule, 3.0cm or less in diameter) in groups I and II had a significantly better chance for long survival, the early detection of HCC in group III did not improve the chance for good prognosis.
