INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF NON-INVASIVE BIOMARKERS IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA, ESPECIALLY IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS
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Keywords
hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, biomarkers, early diagnosis.
Abstract
Background: Liver cancer especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has attributed to high mortality rates worldwide, especially among patients with cirrhosis. Tumour detection is therefore important since it enhances high survival rates. The non-invasive biomarkers represent a very attractive strategy for the early diagnosis of HCC taking in consideration the fact that a large number of patients may benefit from the early diagnosis and actually do not require invasive procedures.
Objectives :To determine the accuracy of non-invasive biomarkers in diagnosis of early stage HCC in patient with liver cirrhosis.
Study Design: A Cross-sectional-study
Duration and place of study: Department of Medicine, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan from July 2023 to July 2024.
Methods : A total of one hundred cirrhotic patients were assessed for the presence of HCC by using noninvasive markers, that is AFP and DCP. The patient demographics liver function tests and imaging findings were recorded at the time of admission into the study. According to the analysis of the results obtained, the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the biomarkers were established.
Results : The study included 100 patients with a mean age of 55. 3 years (standard deviation: The average age was 8. 7 years and that is calculated with seventy patients having a record of measuring age between 8 years and 9 years. AFP was 75% sensitive and 80% specific while DCP was 82% sensitive and 85% specific. The increase in diagnostic accuracy was made obvious by use of both AFP and DCP (p-value < 0. 05). Establishing that biomarkers are related to tumor size and stage with an aim of determining thier ability in early diagnosis.
Conclusion : AFP and DCP are relatively non- invasive biomarkers that may be useful in early diagnosis of HCC in patients with cirrhosis. Together the two improve the diagnostic reliability, providing a useful added weapon for clinicians in the war against high risk patients.
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Muhammad Sohail
Emergency Medical Officer, DHQ Hospital, Chakwal, Pakistan.
Waqar Ahmad
Postgraduate Resident Internal Medicine, Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Ahmad Zeb
Post Graduate Resident Internal Medicine, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad Noman Khalil
Medical Officer, Kanwal Medical Center, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Fazleamin
Post Graduate Resident Internal Medicine, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Waleed Asif Khursheed
Medical Officer, Armed Force Institute of Urology(AFIU), Rawalpindi
Muhammad Saad Rasheed
Final year MBBS, Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Adnan Khan
Lecturer, Abbottabad International Medical Institute, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Shakir Ali Khan
Final year MBBS student Abbottabad International Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Ifitikhar Alam
Post Graduate Resident Nephrology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan