Incidence and epidemiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in Valencia during the year 2000.
OBJECTIVE
to ascertain the incidence and epidemiological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Province of Valencia, Spain.


METHODS
a prospective study was made of hepatocellular carcinoma during the year 2000 collecting all diagnosed cases from four hospitals during that year.


RESULTS
a total of 64 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with a male predominance (42/22) and a mean age of 73.4 years (range of 42-90) were diagnosed. Incidence rate was 8.2 per 100,000, and cirrhosis was known to pre-exist in most cases, half of which were Child-Pugh A. Anti-VHC positive, alone or alcohol or virus B related was detected in 3 of every 4 cases. In the majority of the cases the tumours were located in the right hepatic lobe and the size at first diagnosis was less than 3 cm in 37.3% of the cases. Alpha-fetoprotein levels only exceeded 200 mg/ml in 37.3% of the patients and bore a good size relation to the tumour (R=0.245, p=0.003. No relation vis-à-vis aetiology with age, sex, tumour location or Child-Pugh stage was found.


CONCLUSIONS
the incident rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in Valencia province during 2000 was 8.2 per 100,000 individuals. This lesion appeared more frequently in men between the ages of 60-80. Hepatitis C virus was the main etiologic agent found. Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma. Incidence. Hepatitis C virus. Epidemiology. Child-Pugh grade. Alpha-fetoprotein.
García-Torres
M L
ML
Servicio de Hepatología. Hospital Clíinco Universitario. Facultad de Medicina. Valecia, Spain.
Zaragozá
A
A
Giner
R
R
Primo
J
J
del Olmo
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology