Hepatocellular carcinoma in Yemeni patients: a single centre experience over an 8-year period.
We carried out a retrospective study of all patients admitted to Al-Thawra Teaching Hospital in Sana'a with hepatocellular carcinoma to study the disease profile in Yemeni patients and identify possible risk factors. During the 8-year study period, January 2001-December 2008, 251 patients were admitted with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma. From hospital records we collected data on demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, histological characters, viral markers, treatment and outcome. Around 75% of the patients were males. Age range was 26-75 years, mean 53.5 (SD 13.9) years. Most patients were farmers (73.7%) and had a history of chemical contact. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (48.2%) and hepatitis C virus infection (38.2%) were the most frequently identified risk factors. Qat chewing and smoking were not statistically significant risk factors. Right lobe involvement was seen in 109 (43.4%) patients and 154 (61.4%) presented with multiple lesions. We found 187 (74.0%) patients had cirrhotic liver associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall mortality rate within 6 months of admission to hospital was 24.3%.
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University Sana'a, Yemen. drahmedkaeed@yahoo.com
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Salem
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Abdulrab
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Alfakeh
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology
D016573:Agrochemicals; D015415:Biomarkers