Differences of resected hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B or C virus.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathologic differences of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with the hepatitis B versus the hepatitis C virus.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-eight patients with resected hepatocellular carcinoma were tested for viral hepatitis. Ten (6%) had both the hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. Thirty-three (20%) had neither marker. Sixteen (9%) had only the hepatitis B surface antigen (group B), and 109 (65%) had only antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (group C). We compared groups B and C clinicopathologically.


RESULTS
The mean tumor diameter was larger in group B than in group C (6.3 cm vs 3.4 cm), while group B patients were younger than group C (48 yrs vs 62 yrs, p<0.0001). Poor liver function, histologic cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis were frequently found in group C. The 1- and 2-year tumor-free survival rates following surgery in group B were 67% and 33%, and those in group C were 73% and 49%. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates following surgery in group B were 78%, 68%, and 0%, while those in group C were 92%, 83%, and 76% (p=0.0189).


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatocellular carcinoma with concomitant hepatitis B viral infection was found to present as larger tumors in younger patients with less severe liver dysfunction. Hepatocellular carcinoma with concomitant hepatitis C viral infection was often detected in follow-up studies when it was small.
Shuto
T
T
Second Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Hirohashi
K
K
Kubo
S
S
Tsukamoto
T
T
Yamamoto
T
T
Wakasa
K
K
Kinoshita
H
H
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate