The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with low positive serum AFP level: an analysis of 424 cases / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of low positive AFP level for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when a space occuping lesion (SOL) was already identified in the liver.MethodsUsing randomized controlled clinical trial,a clinical epidemiological analysis was made based on the result of surgery and pathology proven hepatic SOL of 2?878 cases admitted from January 1993 to June 2001.In this series,there were 2?362 HCC cases, among which 424 HCC cases were with a low positive AFP level(between 21 and 200??g/L) which constitutes the basis of our analysis.ResultsIn HCC and non HCC groups,the sensitivity,specificity and positive predictive value were 69 9%(1?650/2?362) vs.8 9%(46/516) ( P