Saleem Sharieff, Ikram Burney, Abdul Salam, Tariq Siddiqui.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(5):264-7.

Objective: To describe the etiology, clinicopathological features and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Design: A retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, on patients admitted between January 1994 and December 1998. Subjects and Methods: A total of 201 consecutive patients diagnosed to have primary HCC on liver biopsy were the subjects of this study. Data included clinical and physical examination, routine hematological and bio-chemical investigations along with alpha-fetoprotein (a-FP or AFP) and imaging studies. Results: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 56 years (24 to 85 years). There was a male preponderance (74%). The mean (a-FP was 17,027±68, 853ng/ml. The viral hepatitis profile was HBsAg positive=36%; Anti-HCV positive = 41 %; both positive = 7%; both negative = 16%. HBV-related HCC patients were found to be younger than HCV-related HCC patients (49.7 v/s 56.3 years; p=NS). However, there was no significant difference in the survival rates of either group of patients. The median survival time was 16 weeks. Conclusion:HBV and HCV account for 84% of HCC in Pakistan. Majority of the patients had advanced stage of HCC. The median survival was 16 weeks.

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