In:
Hepatology Research, Wiley, Vol. 45, No. 4 ( 2015-04), p. 415-422
Abstract:
The objectives of this study was to evaluate the utility of tumor markers in hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) surveillance based on the reliability of ultrasonography. Methods We analyzed 313 patients with HCC detected through a surveillance program using ultrasonography combined with three tumor markers from F ebruary 2000 to D ecember 2010. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the triggering event: the US group ( n = 281) in which a tumor was first detected using ultrasonography and the TM group ( n = 32) in which elevated tumor markers led to the diagnosis of a tumor that was undetected using ultrasonography. The reliability of ultrasonography was scored on a 4‐point scale based on three items (coarseness of liver parenchyma, patient obesity and liver atrophy). Additionally, patient survival was assessed using the K aplan– M eier method and log–rank test. Results The median tumor size was 20 mm (interquartile range, 15–24). The reliability of ultrasonography was evaluated as good in 208 (66.5%), satisfactory in 80 (8.0%), poor in 21 (6.7%) and unsatisfactory in four (1.2%) patients. The proportion of patients in the TM group increased significantly according to the score, from 7.2% to 25.0% ( P = 0.01). The survival rates of patients at 3 and 5 years were 83.7% and 57.2% in the US group, and 79.3% and 59.4% in the TM group, respectively ( P = 0.98). Conclusion Tumor markers may play a diagnostic role in patients with unreliable ultrasonography results. The survival of patients diagnosed by elevated tumor markers was not significantly different from those diagnosed by ultrasonography.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1386-6346
,
1872-034X
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2006439-1
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