Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis-B-positive renal transplant recipients.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of malignancy after renal transplantation in Asia, where hepatitis B virus infection is endemic. Early detection and resection are the key to successful treatment because the mortality rate for HCC is high. The value of alpha-fetoprotein monitoring in the early detection of HCC in renal transplant recipients has not been reported before. We describe 2 patients who had successful resection of HCC following early diagnosis by alpha-fetoprotein monitoring. The epidemiology of post-transplant HCC in various parts of the world and its pathogenesis are discussed.
Tang
S
S
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Lo
C M
CM
Chan
T M
TM
Lai
K N
KN
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002353:Carrier State; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins