Frequency of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hepatiris C virus related Cirrhosis Liver

Abstract

Background: To find out the frequency of Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis of liver secondary to hepatitis C virus infection.

Material & Methods: This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in Gastroenterology department of Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar. The duration of study was six months and two days, stretching from 1st April 2009 to 3rd October 2009. A total of 246 patients were included in this study. All those adult patients, either already diagnosed as having cirrhosis of liver secondary to HCV or newly diagnosed cases of liver cirrhosis with HCV were included in the study. Their HCV status was confirmed with 4th generation ELISA. Cirrhosis of the liver was confirmed with the help of ultrasonography and synthetic functions of the liver. The main tools for the diagnosis of HCC were ultrasound abdomen, serum alpha-feto protein and biphasic contrast enhanced CT scan.

Results: Out of 246 patients, 149 were male and 97 were female. The mean age was 54.63 years ±9.7SD. Out of all, 24 (9.75%) patients were having HCC. Out of these 24 patients, 20 patients were having typical findings of HCC on ultrasound examination and their alfa fetoproteins level was more then 200 nanogram/ml. The mean age of the patients with HCC was 54.04±8.42 years.

Conclusions: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a frequent complication (9.75%) of cirrhosis secondary to chronic HCV infection. Treating HCV and thus avoiding cirrhosis can be a best strategy to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma.