EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL, AND PARACLINICAL TESTS CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVER CANCER PATIENTS AT MILITARY HOSPITAL 175 IN 2024

Tóm tắt

Objective: To identify pathological and laboratory characteristics of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Subjects and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 172 patients diagnosed and treated for HCC at Military Hospital 175 from January 2024 to December 2024, to record and analyze clinical features and laboratory findings.

Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 61.8 ± 11.9 years, with the most common age group being 61-70 years (33.7%). The majority of patients were male (86.6%). Chronic hepatitis B and C infections were the predominant risk factors, accounting for 80.8% of cases. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (78.5%) and fatigue (33.1%), while 8.7% of cases were detected through routine health check ups. The average tumor size was 5.7 ± 3.7 cm. Over half of the patients had multiple tumors, predominantly located in the right liver lobe (87.2%). Most patients showed elevated liver enzymes, especially AST, with ALT elevation observed at a lower rate and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated in 58.7% of cases. Liver function remained relatively preserved in the majority, with 78.5% classified as Child-Pugh A. Stage B was the most common stage at diagnosis (38.4%), but a significant proportion of patients (35.5%) were still diagnosed at late stages (C or D).

Conclusion: Patients with HCC exhibited distinct demographic and clinical characteristics, particularly regarding gender, age, and disease stage . Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are the major risk factors. Laboratory results reflect liver injury and functional impairment, though some patients with HCC have normal AFP levels.