Z Gastroenterol 2010; 48 - P2_38
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1246417

Epidemiology and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern Germany

G Kirovski 1, G Kirchner 2, HJ Schlitt 3, J Schoelmerich 2, O Stoeltzing 4, C Hellerbrand 2
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg
  • 2Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg
  • 3Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg
  • 4Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to the most frequent tumors worldwide with an incidence still rising. Patients with cirrhosis are at the highest risk for cancerogenesis and are candidates for surveillance, and here, as well as for the choice of potential forms of treatment, identification of suitable parameters for estimating the prognosis is of high clinical importance.

Aims: To describe the etiology of cirrhosis and to identify predictors of survival in a large single center cohort of HCC patients in Southern Germany.

Methods: Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates of 458 patients (83.6% male; mean age: 62.5±11.2 years) consecutively admitted to a University Hospital between 1994 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Chronic alcohol abuse was the most common risk factor (57.2%), followed by infection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV: 10.9% and HCV: 20.5%). Overall median survival was 26.0 months, and higher OKUDA stages correlated negatively with prognosis. However, and an even stronger negative correlation was observed between the CLIP score and survival (log-rank test: p=2×10e-13).

Conclusion: Chronic alcohol abuse is frequently associated with HCC in low hepatitis virus endemic areas, such as Germany. Our study suggests the CLIP score as a valuable prognostic marker for patients' survival, particularly of patients with alcohol related HCC.