Characteristics & prognosis of patients in Japan with viral marker-negative HCC

[Guest guest]

Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (OnlineEarly Articles).

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05138.x

Abstract

HEPATOLOGY

Characteristics and prognosis of patients in Japan with viral

marker-negative hepatocellular carcinoma

Hidenori Toyoda,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and Dr Hidenori Toyoda,

Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, 4-86,

Minaminokawa, Ogaki, Gifu 503-8502, Japan. Email: tkumada@...

Takashi Kumada,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and Seiki

Kiriyama,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and Yasuhiro Sone,*Departments of

*Gastroenterology and Makoto Tanikawa,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and

Yasuhiro Hisanaga,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and Akira

Kanamori,*Departments of *Gastroenterology and Akihiro Yamaguchi,Surgery,

Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan Masatoshi Isogai,Surgery, Ogaki

Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan Yuji KaneokaSurgery, Ogaki Municipal

Hospital, Ogaki, Japan and Junji WashizuSurgery, Ogaki Municipal Hospital,

Ogaki, Japan Departments of *Gastroenterology and Surgery, Ogaki Municipal

Hospital, Ogaki, Japan

Dr Hidenori Toyoda, Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal

Hospital, 4-86, Minaminokawa, Ogaki, Gifu 503-8502, Japan. Email:

tkumada@...

Abstract

Background and Aim: The characteristics and prognosis of patients with

hepatitis virus marker-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not fully

elucidated in Japan. We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of

HCC patients in whom no markers for hepatitis virus infection were detected,

in comparison with those of HCC patients with hepatitis virus infection.

Methods: Viral markers for hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection

were measured in 1152 patients in whom initial HCC was diagnosed between

1991 and 2004. Patient characteristics, characteristics of HCC and survival

were compared between patients in whom no marker was positive (viral

marker-negative HCC) and those in whom chronic HBV or HCV infection was

confirmed by viral markers (viral HCC).

Results: Overall, 119 patients (10.3%) were shown to have viral

marker-negative HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected under

surveillance in a significantly smaller percentage of patients with viral

marker-negative HCC than of patients with viral HCC (P < 0.0001). The tumor

was significantly larger (P < 0.0001) and vascular invasion was

significantly more prevalent (P = 0.0003) in patients with viral

marker-negative HCC than in those with viral HCC. The survival rate of

patients with viral marker-negative HCC was significantly lower than that of

patients with viral HCC (P = 0.0378).

Conclusion: The patients with HCC in whom hepatitis viral infection had not

been confirmed tended not to be under surveillance, resulting in the

detection of HCC at more advanced stage and with a poorer prognosis. Efforts

to identify patients without hepatitis virus infection who should be under

surveillance for HCC will be necessary in the future.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jgh/0/0?

_________________________________________________________________

More photos; more messages; more whatever. Windows Live Hotmail - NOW with

5GB storage.

http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us & ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM\

_mini_5G_0907