Published online Aug 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i29.4656
Revised: February 28, 2006
Accepted: April 1, 2006
Published online: August 7, 2006
AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonographic screening for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS: The data of 14 968 patients who had ultrasonography (US) for chronic liver diseases were collected into a database program from June 1995 to June 2005. The risk factors for HCC were also studied. A total of 6089 patients who had repeated US were enrolled, 264 patients were diagnosed with HCC during follow-up (mean, 39 mo).
RESULTS: The detection rate of small HCC (≤ 3 cm in diameter) was 67.7%. The tumor size detected by screening at the intervals of 6 mo was significantly smaller than that at longer intervals. Only 29.3% of HCC patients had an elevated serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level above 400 ng/mL. The risk of HCC development during follow-up was higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (10.9%) and hepatitis C (9.0%) than in patients with chronic hepatitis (4.2%), hepatitis B (4.9%) and non-B, non-C hepatitis (NBNC, 3.9%).
CONCLUSION: US screening at a interval of 6 mo is beneficial to high-risk patients over 40 years old and the early detection of HCC prolongs survival.