title: Meshwork pattern is an important risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
abstract: We analyzed the importance of 'meshwork pattern', a sign representing severe irregularity on the intra-hepatic echogram, in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, as a risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two hundred and thirty-one patients (143 men and 88 women) with HBV-related chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis who visited our hospital from January 1993 to December 1994 were enrolled in this study. Since enrollment, abdominal ultrasonography had in principle been performed every 3 months for cirrhotic patients and every 4-6 months for patients with chronic hepatitis for HCC screening. Cumulative HCC incidences in patient groups positive or negative for meshwork pattern were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The incidence of HCC was significantly higher in the group positive for meshwork pattern (average incidence per year: 4.4%) than in the group negative for it (average incidence per year: 0.5%) (P<0.0001, Mantel-Cox test). On regression analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, sex, alpha-fetoprotein and meshwork pattern were selected as independent risk factors for HCC. In conclusion, meshwork pattern appears to be an ultrasonographic sign useful for detecting a latent risk factor for HCC in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, 545-8585, Osaka, Japan
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habu
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: Etsuji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kawamua
authors.forename: Chulyoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogami
authors.forename: Wakaba
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi