Positron emission tomography scanning in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma
Section snippets
Materials and Methods
We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with HCC seen at Saint Louis University Hospital who had both PET and computerized tomography (CT) scans done between 1995 and 1998. Serum aminotransferases, alpha-fetoprotein levels and serology for viral hepatitis (hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core antibody and antibody to hepatitis C virus) were recorded. The diagnosis of HCC was confirmed histologically or cytologically in all cases. Eleven patients had subsequent
Results
Twenty consecutive patients were studied including 15 males and five females ranging in age between 38 and 84 years (mean 60.1) (Table 1). Fifteen patients had cirrhosis. Three patients (18%) were sero-positive for anti-HCV, three for HBsAg (18%), while the viral status of three was not known. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were available on 18 patients and 12 of the 18 (67%) had levels above 10 ng/ml (mean 1646, range 20 to 14 427 ng/ml). The diagnosis of HCC was confirmed by histological (n
Discussion
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The incidence is especially high in regions of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa although in the United States and Western Europe, HCC accounts for 1 to 2% of malignant tumors at autopsy (19). HCC often presents at an advanced stage when patients have abdominal pain or hepatic decompensation, although small tumors may be detected at an earlier stage by imaging techniques or by estimation of serum alpha-fetoprotein
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