Alpha fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma, and it's relation to tumour size, pathological grading and underlying liver diseases

ABSTRACT

APP was estimated in the serum of 60 patients with HCC either pure or associated with chronic liver diseases including schistosomal periportal fibrosis, chronic viral hepatitis and /or cirrhosis. Only 36.6% of cases were having values above the cutoff value [500 ng/ml], while 35% were having normal values [<20 ng/ml], and 28.4% had intermediate values. No significant relation was found between AFP and the size of tumors measured ultrasonographically, or the grade of malignancy as detected histologically. No statistically significant differences were found between various associated liver diseases including schistosomiasis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, or mixed etiologies