Some Tumour Markers In The Diagnosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma :

Yasser Azmy Abdel-hamid

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumours inthe world. Nowadays the incidence of primary liver cancer started to increase in Egypt. HCC is the most common primary malignancy in the liver on a worldwide basis. It represents about 83% of all primary malignant hepatic tumours. The risk factors thought to be related to HCC include cirrhosis, aflatoxins exposure, alcohol intake, oral contraceptives or high dose of anabolic steroids. However the major factor is chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infection progressing to cirrhosis and HCC. This study involved 25 HCC patients primary type. ( 17 males and 8 females ) age ranging from 24- 73 years.Control group included 25 normal subjects ( 15 males and 10 females) with an age range of 21-60 years.All patients and controls were subjected to the following:Full history , as regards age, history of jaundice, bleeding full examination, ultrasonography and pathology.Laboratory investigations included Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) , Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 ( CA19_9) and HCV antibody ( ELISA technique) .-Six patients when diagnosed were foind to be grade I, 13 grode II and 6 grade-Seven patients were positive to HCV antibody.-All 25 pateints showed 100% positivity to each of AFP, CEA, CA 19_9 in relation to control group.-The relation between the level of the 3tumour markers and sex was insignificant.-The relation between the level of the 3tumour markers and HCV antibody positivity was insignificant-The relation between the level of AFP and pathological diagnosis was significant, while it was insignificant in relation to the level of CEA and CA19-9 .