Growth Kinetics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We measured the size of 17 semispherical hepatocellular carcinomatumor nodules in 13 patients repeatedly by either computed tomographyor ultrasonography for 10 to 291 days. At the initial examinationthe diameter of these tumors was 30 ± 15 mm (mean ±SD).When the doubling time of these tumor volumes was calculatedby the formula proposed by Schwartz, it was 119 ± 96days (mean ± SD). There was no correlation between thedoubling time of the tumors and the degree of impairment ofliver function in any case. There was also no correlation betweenthe doubling time of the tumors and the alpha-fetoprotein level.However, in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen, the doublingtime was short (48 ± 8 days), when compared with theantigen-negative cases (140 ± 98 days). Based on the shortest doubling time of the smaller tumors, itwas revealed that the diameter was duplicated in four months.Since the minimum tumor diameter that was detected by ultrasonographyand/or computed tomography was considered to be 1 cm, we recommendthat ultrasonography and/or computed tomography should be performedat least every four months to detect so-called "small hepatocellularcarcinoma," which has a diameter of less than 2 cm, in patientsat high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.