Hepatocellular carcinoma in the non-cirrhotic liver: a comparison with that complicating cirrhosis
Melia, W.M.; Wilkinson, M.L.; Portmann, B.C.; Johnson, P.J.; Williams, R.
Quarterly Journal of Medicine 53(211): 391-400
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-5622 PMID: 6207557 Document Number: 411984
The clinicopathological features of 50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma arising in a noncirrhotic liver are described and compared with those of 100 patients in whom tumors arose as a complication of cirrhosis. The noncirrhotic patients were significantly younger, more often female, and had a less strong association with serum markers of hepatitis B virus infection. Liver function tests and serum alpha fetoproteins were less often abnormal and survival was significantly better than in the cirrhotic group. The different etiological factors, clinical features, and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma arising in the noncirrhotic liver compared to the more common form of hepatocellular carcinoma which complicates cirrhosis justifies detailed investigation by liver biopsy and other techniques.