Abstract
The liver cancer study group of Japan analysed statistically 4658 cases of primary liver cancer diagnosed from Jan. 1, 1980 to Dec. 31, 1981 in 584 hospitals throughout the country. In 2286 cases, a histological diagnosis was available. They comprised 2038 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 146 of cholangiocarcinoma, 33 of mixed carcinoma, 30 of hepatoblastoma, 6 of sarcoma, and 33 others. Other 2372 cases had no histological diagnosis.
The survey included histological features of the tumors, pathology in noncancerous portions of the liver, modality of metastasis, gross features of the tumors, degree of the tumor extension to the surrounding tissue, past medical history, initial symptoms and signs, AFP level at the time of diagnosis made, radiographic (angiogram, scintiscan, computed tomography) and ultra-sonographic features, surgical procedures, and survival rates, etc.
