Incidence and epidemiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in Valencia during the year 2000
García-Torres, M.L.; Zaragozá, A.; Giner, R.; Primo, J.; del Olmo, J.A.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 95(6): 385-8 381-4
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 12852777 Document Number: 556979
Aim: to ascertain the incidence and epidemiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Province of Valencia, Spain. Design: a prospective study was made of hepatocellular carcinoma during the year 2000 collecting all diagnosed cases from four hospitals during that year. Results: a total of 64 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with a male predominance (42/22) and a mean age of 73.4 years (range of 42-90) were diagnosed. Incidence rate was 8.2 per 100,000, and cirrhosis was known to pre-exist in most cases, half of which were Child-Pugh A. Anti-VHC positive, alone or alcohol or virus B related was detected in 3 of every 4 cases. In the majority of the cases the tumours were located in the right hepatic lobe and the size at first diagnosis was less than 3 cm in 37.3% of the cases. Alpha-fetoprotein levels only exceeded 200 mug/ml in 37.3% of the patients and bore a good size relation to the tumour (R = 0.245, p = 0.003. No relation vis-a-vis aetiology with age, sex, tumour location or Child-Pugh stage was found. Conclusions: the incident rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in Valencia province during 2000 was 8.2 per 100,000 individuals. This lesion appeared more frequently in men between the ages of 60-80. Hepatitis C virus was the main etiologic agent found.