Chronic Hepatitis B Patients May Need to Begin Liver Cancer Screening at a Younger Age than Currently Recommended

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have shown that 60% of all HCC cases are related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Current practice guidelines for HCC screening in patients with hepatitis B may lead to a delay in diagnosis in non-cirrhotic males under age 40, and females under age 50, according to results of a study by Fotini Manizate from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and colleagues presented at the 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (13th ISVHLD) held March 20-24, 2009, in Washington, DC.

"Entering HBV patients into a cancer screening program at a younger age is recommended, especially in patients with perinatally-acquired HBV," the investigators concluded.

Further, they stated, "The absence of cirrhosis in young HBV patients should not impact the decision to screen for HCC, as the majority of HBV-associated HCC develop in non-cirrhotic patients in this young age group."

Following is a link to the slides from the ISVHLD presentation.

Variables Impacting Treatment and Prognosis in Young Patients (under Age 40) who Develop Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Implications for Management of an Unscreened Population

3/27/09

Reference
F Manizate, NN Rahbari, GA Villanueva, and others. Variables Impacting Treatment and Prognosis in Young Patients (under Age 40) who Develop Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Implications for Management of an Unscreened Population. 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (ISVHLD). Washington, DC. March 20-24, 2009. Abstract OP-177.