Should a radiological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma be routinely confirmed by a biopsy? No

Modern multiphase diagnostic imaging allows diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with high specificity in a large proportion of cases. Additional aspects of tumor biology also can be evaluated noninvasively through observation of tumor behavior (growth rate, satellites, vascular invasion) and other indicators of tumor biology (avid uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose, high circulating levels of tumor markers such as alphafetoprotein). Routinely requiring biopsy confirmation for diagnosis of HCC exposes many patients to unnecessary risk, may delay diagnosis, and in some cases leads to withholding of potentially beneficial treatment. Biopsy for assessment of tumor molecular markers is promising but remains investigational. When diagnosis of HCC is clinically evident by imaging criteria, tumor biopsy should not be required prior to initiating treatment.     

Should a radiological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma be routinely confirmed by a biopsy? Yes

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents approximately 85 to 90% of all primary liver cancers (PLC) and every year, more than 560,000 people are diagnosed as affected by this cancer.The identification of risk factors for HCC prompted the creation of screening and surveillance programs in patients affected by chronic liver diseases with the aim of detecting HCC nodules as soon as possible and provide effective and hopefully curative therapyA correct diagnosis is of paramount importance for the surveillance program as well as for the choice of the appropriate therapy. Both in the diagnosis of small HCC and in the choice of the therapy for locally advanced HCC the diagnosis must be certain.Improvements of the radiological imagine techniques have surely enhanced both early diagnosis and tumor staging, allowing a reasonably accurate diagnosis, but cannot provide the certainty that in clinical practice is essential for an adequate workout.Therefore, the histopatological definition of the tumor is imperative both for an appropriate therapy and for an accurate prognostic evaluation.     

2009年美国肝病学会酒精性肝病诊疗指南介绍

2009年美国肝病学会酒精性肝病(ALD)诊疗指南,已在2010年1期Hepatology发表~([1]),现介绍如下. 一、ALD的患病率和自然病史 全世界的饮酒方式存在地理差异,几乎2/3的美国成年人饮酒.少量或适量饮酒是否有益健康,尚缺乏相关证据.而过量饮酒者可发展为洒精耐受,酒精依赖和酒精戒断,另外,酒精滥用和酗酒义可带来消极的社会和健康后果(如失业,家庭破裂、器官受损、意外伤害或死亡).