title: [Hepatocellular carcinoma in Germany. Epidemiology, etiology, clinical aspects and prognosis in 100 consecutive patients of a university clinic].
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C and B are the main causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Little is known about the etiology of HCC in Germany which is regarded as a low-prevalence area for viral hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV). To assess the etiologic factors of HCC in Germany we have retrospectively analyzed the records of 100 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in our clinic. HCC-patients with documented status on HCV/HBV-infection and daily alcohol intake (n = 55) had HCV antibodies in 53%, HBs-Ag in 20%, isolated chronic alcohol abuse in 11% and genetic hemochromatosis in 2%. In 13% of the HCC-patients no risk factor could be identified. Coinfections with HCV and HBV were not observed. Liver cirrhosis was present in 90% of the HCC-patients. In histologically confirmed HCC (n = 71) serum alpha-fetoprotein level was normal (< 8.5 ng/ml) in 20%, moderately elevated (8.5-300 ng/ml) in 48% and considerably elevated (> 300 ng/ml) in 32% of the patients. Only 31% of all patients presented with small single lesions (< or = 5 cm) without evidence for extrahepatic metastases or portal vein thrombosis. Only 30% of the HCC-patients could be treated with a curative intention (28 hepatic resections, one orthotopic liver transplantation). Patients who underwent resection had cumulative 6-month, 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates of 83.8%, 65.9%, 54.3% and 24.8% respectively. Median survival time after resection was 24.8 months compared with 5.8 months in symptomatically treated patients with unresectable HCC (n = 39). Patients with hepatitis C-associated HCC were significantly older than patients with hepatitis B-associated HCC (mean values: 63.2 vs. 54.2 years). Frequency of cirrhosis, tumor stage, alpha-fetoprotein level and prognosis did not differ between groups. In conclusion hepatocellular carcinoma was predominantly associated with chronic HCV-infection. Most patients presented with normal or moderately elevated serum AFP-levels. Prognosis was poor even after hepatic resection.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heintges
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hensel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erhardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenning
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niederau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
vernacular_title: Hepatozelluläres Karzinom in Deutschland. Epidemiologie, Atiologie, Klinik und Prognose bei 100 konsekutiven Patienten einer Universitätsklinik.