title: Evaluation of combined assays of serum ferritin, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-fetoprotein in liver cancer.
abstract: Serum ferritin (SF), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were examined preoperatively in 66 patients with intrahepatic space-occupied lesions revealed by B-real time ultrasonography. Elevated SF levels (> 300 micrograms/L in males and > 180 micrograms/L in females), AAT levels (4.2 g/L), and AFP levels (> 20 micrograms/L) were shown in 84%, 71% and 66% respectively of 55 patients with liver cancer. Combined analysis indicates that if all the three tests are negative, liver cancer can be essentially excluded; and positive AFP can rule out hepatic hemangioma. So combined assays of SF, AAT and AFP are valuable in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001681:Biological Assay; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005293:Ferritins