Small and asymptomatic hepatocellular carcinoma detected by alpha-fetoprotein screening in black hepatitis B carriers. A report of 2 cases.
Two patients in whom asymptomatic and small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were detected by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening are reported. Both patients were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive. In the first patient, the tumour grew slowly and was resected more than 2 years after a significant elevation in serum AFP levels had been first detected and 13 months after hepatic angiography confirmed the presence of a vascular tumour. In the second patient, a small encapsulated HCC was diagnosed by AFP screening and hepatic imaging. The clinical course in these 2 patients illustrates that small, asymptomatic and encapsulated HCCs do occur in southern African black hepatitis B carriers. Regular screening of patients at risk may be justified.
G M
GM
Dusheiko
J C
JC
Conradie
S M
SM
Bowyer
A
A
Simjee
B
B
Epstein
L J
LJ
Levien
P
P
Beale
M C
MC
Kew
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002353:Carrier State; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins