| Abstract: | Based upon mass screening of hepatocellu-lar carcinoma (HCC) using alpha fetoprotein(AFP) as tumor marker and long term follow-up study, a new concept concerning the naturalcours.e of HCC has been developed. Adverse tothe previous concept of relat.ive short survival,HCC exist.s and develops for a. relatively longperiod before symptoms occur. A group o.f pa-thologically proven HCC cases receiving non-res.ect.ional treatment revea.led that the mediansurvival of subclinicaI HCC was 14 months ver-sus 3 months in clinical HCC. 10 more monthsshould be added from the first, appearance oflow but gradually increasing AFP of subclinicaJHCC, so the natural course of HCC is about 24months. This relatively long period providesmuch more opportunity for s.uccessful treat-ment of this grave malignancy if it is detectedEarly. |
