ABSTRACT
The Authors take a hint from recent observation of two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with obstructive jaundice to analyse the litterature and their clinical cases. They conclude that in the evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma can be found "early" or "late" jaundice. The latest is hepatocellular and/or obstructive jaundice and it is harbinger of fatal prognosis because of a big hepatocelluar carcinoma that has invaded biliary tree and/or liver failure by concomitant cirrhosis. The "early" jaundice appears when the tumor is still small and it is always obstructive due to intrabile duct tumor growth. This kind of jaundice has a good prognostic meaning because, together with imaging techniques, permits an early diagnosis of the hepatocellular carcinoma necessary for satisfactory palliation or occasional cure.
