Alpha fetoprotein for screening for hepatocellular cancer in populations with viral hepatitis B: an appraisal of Thai reports.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-37650
ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy in hepatitis cases which is difficult to detect in early stages. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumor marker which has been introduced for screening but in Southeast Asia where the rate of hepatitis B seropositivity is very high, the diagnostic benefit is still doubtful. Here, a literature review of three Thai reports was conducted, covering 4,295 cases. The overall diagnostic activity showed sensitivity, specificity, false positives and false negatives of 73.5%, 98.9%, 26.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Thus the sensitivity is insufficient for screening purposes and serum AFP can not be recommended for hepatitis B carriers over standard tests.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Thailand
/
Humans
/
Alpha-Fetoproteins
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
/
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
Hepatitis B
/
Liver Neoplasms
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Screening study
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
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