ATIENTS WITH HCV INDUCED LIVER CIRRHOSIS TIENTS WITH HCV INDUCED LIVER CIRRHOSIS TIENTS WITH HCV INDUCED LIVER CIRRHOSIS TIENTS WITH HCV INDUCED LIVER CIRRHOSIS TIENTS WITH HCV INDUCED LIVER CIRRHOSIS

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Objectives: Objectives: Objectives: Objectives: Objectives: To see how often Hepatitis "C" positive patients culminate in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: Material and Methods: A case series descriptive study was conducted over a period of more than two years from January 2010 to February 2012 in Medical "E" Unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. This included 282 Hepatitis "C" positive patients with cirrhosis of liver. They were of 18 to 65 years of age. These patients were evaluated for the presence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by means of ultrasonography, alpha-fetoprotein and computed tomography of abdomen. Results: Results: Results: Results: Out of all 282 patients, 35 (12.4%) had single/multiple mass lesion/s in their liver parenchyma on ultrasonography. Of these 35 patients, 34(97.14%) were labeled to have Hepatocellular Carcinoma, diagnosis consolidated with the help of Computed Tomography of abdomen and very high levels of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). 33 had single mass lesion in liver while 2 had multiple lesions. One (2.86%) out of the total 35 had metastatic liver disease with normal to slightly raised levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Conclusion: Conclusion: Conclusion: Conclusion: Hepatitis C has become an epidemic in our country and ending with complications of cirrhosis of liver and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. It is time to focus our full attention on prevention of HCV infection in the first instance. Moreover, those patients who have already developed cirrhosis of liver should undergo regular surveillance for an early detection of HCC so that effective treatment could be instituted in time. K K K