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| IJCEM Copyright © 2008-All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711 |
Int J Clin Exp Med 2010;3(2):169-179
Original Article
Epidemiology and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern
Germany
Gabriele Kirchner, Georgi Kirovski, Alexandra Hebestreit, Jürgen Schölmerich, Hans Jürgen Schlitt, Oliver Stoeltzing, Claus Hellerbrand
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany; Department of Surgery, University
Hospital Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
Received May 28, 2010, accepted May, 2010, available online May, 2010
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to the most frequent tumors worldwide with an incidence still rising. Patients with
cirrhosis are at the highest risk for cancerogenesis and are candidates for surveillance, and here, as well as for the choice of potential
forms of treatment, identification of suitable parameters for estimating the prognosis is of high clinical importance. The aim of this
study was to describe the etiology of underlying liver disease and to identify predictors of survival in a large single center cohort of HCC
patients in Southern Germany. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates of 458 patients (83.6% male; mean age: 62.5±11.2
years) consecutively admitted to a University Hospital between 1994 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The results indicate that
Chronic alcohol abuse was the most common risk factor (57.2%), followed by infection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV: 10.9% and
HCV: 20.5%). Overall median survival was 19.0 months, and higher OKUDA, CHILD and CLIP scores correlated negatively with
prognosis. Of these, only the CLIP Score was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis. We conclude that Chronic alcohol
abuse is frequently associated with HCC in low hepatitis virus endemic areas, such as Germany. Our study suggests the CLIP score
as a valuable prognostic marker for patients' survival , particularly of patients with alcohol related HCC.(IJCEM1005005).
Key words: CLIP score, HCC, epidemiology, survival
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Claus Hellerbrand, MD
University of Regensburg
Department of Internal Medicine I
D-93042 Regensburg
Germany
Tel: +49-941-944-7155
Fax:+49-941-944-7154
E-mail: claus.hellerbrand@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Original Article
Epidemiology and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern
Germany
Gabriele Kirchner, Georgi Kirovski, Alexandra Hebestreit, Jürgen Schölmerich, Hans Jürgen Schlitt, Oliver Stoeltzing, Claus Hellerbrand
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany; Department of Surgery, University
Hospital Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
Received May 28, 2010, accepted May, 2010, available online May, 2010
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to the most frequent tumors worldwide with an incidence still rising. Patients with
cirrhosis are at the highest risk for cancerogenesis and are candidates for surveillance, and here, as well as for the choice of potential
forms of treatment, identification of suitable parameters for estimating the prognosis is of high clinical importance. The aim of this
study was to describe the etiology of underlying liver disease and to identify predictors of survival in a large single center cohort of HCC
patients in Southern Germany. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates of 458 patients (83.6% male; mean age: 62.5±11.2
years) consecutively admitted to a University Hospital between 1994 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The results indicate that
Chronic alcohol abuse was the most common risk factor (57.2%), followed by infection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV: 10.9% and
HCV: 20.5%). Overall median survival was 19.0 months, and higher OKUDA, CHILD and CLIP scores correlated negatively with
prognosis. Of these, only the CLIP Score was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis. We conclude that Chronic alcohol
abuse is frequently associated with HCC in low hepatitis virus endemic areas, such as Germany. Our study suggests the CLIP score
as a valuable prognostic marker for patients' survival , particularly of patients with alcohol related HCC.(IJCEM1005005).
Key words: CLIP score, HCC, epidemiology, survival
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Claus Hellerbrand, MD
University of Regensburg
Department of Internal Medicine I
D-93042 Regensburg
Germany
Tel: +49-941-944-7155
Fax:+49-941-944-7154
E-mail: claus.hellerbrand@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
