J Korean Radiol Soc.  2004 Sep;51(3):307-312. 10.3348/jkrs.2004.51.3.307.

Usefulness of Screening Ultrasonography for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Detection: Chronic Hepatitis Versus Hepatic Cirrhosis Caused by Hepatitis B Virus

• Chang S
• Choi D
• Lim JH
• Park Y
• Lim HK
• Lee WJ
• Kim SH
• Jang KM
• Choi MS
• Paik SW

• KMID: 2209211
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2004.51.3.307

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the usefulness of screening liver ultrasonography (US) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection in patients with chronic hepatitis or hepatic cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective study was performed with 1,189 patients with clinical hepatopathy caused by HBV who underwent screening liver US for HCC detection at least twice. All patients were followed up with liver US examinations (mean, 8.3 times), CT, or MR for at least 3 months (range, 3-102 months; mean, 47 months) for the detection of HCC. The study population was divided into two groups: chronic hepatitis (n=492) and hepatic cirrhosis (n=697), which was further divided into two groups with (n=156) or without (n=541) evident shrinkage. The radiologic examinations that had detected HCC for the first time were analyzed and compared between the groups.
RESULTS
Among 20 (4.1%) patients with chronic hepatitis and 132 (18.9%) patients with hepatic cirrhosis diagnosed as HCC, screening US was the modality of detection in 17 (85.0%) of 20 patients with chronic hepatitis and 76 (57.6%) of 132 patients with hepatic cirrhosis (p=0.038, Chi-square test). The detection rate of HCC on screening US between the chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis with evident shrinkage (51.4%, 19/37) showed a significant difference (p=0.027, Chi-square test).
CONCLUSION
For chronic liver disease caused by HBV, screening US for HCC detection is more useful in patients with chronic hepatitis than with hepatic cirrhosis with evident shrinkage.

Keyword

Cancer Screening; Liver; Ultrasound (US)

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Early Detection of Cancer
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases
Mass Screening*
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography*