| Theme |
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis : update 2003 |
| Title |
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis |
| Author |
Akitaka Shibuya |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Takeshi Tsuchihashi |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Masaaki Watanabe |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Takahide Nakazawa |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is not well known. We collected information on 396 patients with PBC at enrollment and followed-up from 6 to 271 months. A total of 14 patients developed HCC. The cumulative occurrance rate of HCC in patients with advanced-stage PBC (stage III or IV) was 12.3% by the tenth year. Even without HBV or HCV markers, it was not rare for elderly people who had advanced-stage PBC to develop HCC. We recommend that those patients who have advanced-stage PBC and who are also at high risk for developing HCC, that is, older patients (age 70 or over), males, and those who have a history of blood transfusion, receive the same routine screening with imaging diagnostic methods as do those patients who have cirrhosis related to viral etiology. |