title: Comparison of alpha1 fetoprotein radioimmunoassay method and liver scanning for detecting primary hepatic cell carcinoma.
abstract: Alpha1 (alpha 1) fetoprotein (AFP) radioimmunoassay method was routinely used in addition to liver scintigraphy to detect a primary hepatic cell carcinoma, and the diagnostic accuracy of both methods was compared. Twenty-one of 27 cases (78%) with primary hepatic cell carcinoma showed a positive AFP titer of over 200 ng/ml. In 3 of these AFP-positive cases, no focal defects could be found in liver scintigraphy, although subsequently performed celiac angiography revealed hypervascular shadows. On the contrary, 22 of 27 cases (81%) represented well-defined focal defects on scintigraphy. In 4 of these cases with a positive scan, the result of AFP was found to be negative. The overall diagnostic accuracy for detecting primary hepatic cell carcinoma with a combination of both methods was 93%.
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver; D013667:Technetium; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins; D011868:Radioisotopes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D012834:Silver; D013667:Technetium