The effects of clinical and epidemiological features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on clinical course and prognosis

Background and aims: The aim of this prospective study is to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients that have hepatocellular cancer and its effects on clinical survey and prognosis in patients refered to Dicle Universitesi School of Medicine Department of Gastroenterology.Material and Methods: Totally, fifty two patients were included to this study. Information about patients with hepatocellular cancer was acquired by pre-prepared forms in our center. Diagnosis of HCC was made histologically or with a combination of clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings.Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.32±11.68 with a male-to-female ratio of 5/1.5 (40/12). Etiologically, 63.5% of the patients had hepatitis B virus infection (n=33), 15.4% of the patients had hepatitis delta virus coinfection (n=8), 3.8% of the patients had hepatitis C infection and 9.6% of the patients were consisted of idiopathic cases with unknown etiology. The cirrhotic background was observed in 94% of the patients. The 86.4% of patients were in advanced stage of disease by Okuda classification. Alpha-fetoprotein levels were over 300 ng/ml in 46.1% of the patients.Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection followed by hepatitis delta virus infections are appeared to be the leading etiological factors for HCC cases in our region. HBsAg carriage continues to be an important risk factor for HCC in Turkey. The fact that most of the HCC cases are in the late stages of disease, makes it necessary to use effective diagnosis and treatment methods with efficient screening and monitoring programs in our country.Keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hepatisis B Virus, Hepatisis D Virus, Epidemiology.