HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA IN HEREDITARY HEMOCHROMATOSIS

The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma was studied retrospectively in 93 hemochromatosis patients over a mean follow-up period of 7.7 years (range zero to 33). The presence of clinically evident hepatocellular carcinoma was established by tissue diagnosis in all patients and was not sought by screening for disease. Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed in seven of 93 patients (7.5%). All patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had cirrhosis. Other neoplasms were found in five patients (one bile duct, two breast, one pancreas and one brain). The mortality ratio (observed cases:expected cases) for hepatocellular carcinoma was 350. The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma. in hemochromatosis patients was also reviewed in 962 hemochromatosis patients from 11 previous studies.