[Changes of clinical aspect of primary liver cancer in China during the past 30 years--control study for 3,250 cases with primary liver cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes of the clinical aspects of primary liver cancer (PLC) during the past 30 years.


METHODS
The clinical data of 3,250 patients with PLC, from 10 regions of China were collected, analyzed, and compared with the clinical data of 3254 PLC cases 30 years before.


RESULTS
The 3,250 patients were aged 1- 80, with an average age of 49.1 years, younger than those 30 years before (43.7 years). The male to female ratio was 2.3:1, lower than that 30 years before (7.7:1). 73.5% of them sought medical advice within 3 months after the onset in comparison of 63.8% 30 years before. Compared with those 30 years before the symptoms and signs were alleviated in general. The HBsAg positive rate was 81.0%, the HCV-Ag positive rate was 13.2%, and the alpha-fetoprotein positive rate was 75%. 1912 cases underwent pathological examination of which 91.8% were diagnosed as with hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall resection rate was 46,3%. Those of early, median, and late stages accounted for 29.9%, 51.5%, and 18.6% respectively in comparison with the rates of 0.4%, 47.0%, and 52.6% 30 years before. The one-year survival rate, three-year survival rate, and five-year survival rate were 66.1%, 39.7%, and 32.5% respectively for the whole group, 93.5%, 70.1%, and 59.1% for the early stage patients, and 65.3%, 30.5%, and 23.5% respectively for the median stage patients. The half-year survival rate and one-year survival rate of the late stage patients were 52.5% and 14.7% respectively. Compared with the data 30 years before a lower percentages of the patients died of hepatic coma, hemorrhage of upper digestive tract and hemorrhage due to rupture of tumor, and a higher percentage of then died of asthenia universalis and other causes.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with the situation 30 years ago, PLC can be diagnosed earlier. More patients undergo resection. The prognosis of PLC has been improved greatly.
Yang
Bing-hui
BH
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Xia
Jing-lin
JL
Huang
Li-wen
LW
Tang
Zhao-you
ZY
Chen
Min-shan
MS
Li
Jin-qing
JQ
Liang
An-min
AM
Mo
Qin-guo
QG
Lu
Hui-shan
HS
Dai
Chao-liu
CL
Yan
Lü-nan
LN
Yu
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Rao
Rong-sheng
RS
Li
Le-qun
LQ
Su
Zhi-xiong
ZX
Fang
Zhuang-wei
ZW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate