Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

A prospective study of (13) patients, from both sex, with hepatocellular carcinoma was done in Salahuldeen government in Tikrit teaching hospital in period extent from Feb. 2006 to Aug. 2010. Patients divided into: 1-Those underwent FNAC for liver mass (5 patients) (38.5%), for diagnosis in addition to clinical and radiological evaluation with measurement of alfa-fetoprtein (AFP) level in the serum of them. 2-Those didn't undergo FNA and diagnosis made by clinical and radiological evaluation, and measurement of serum AFP level, in addition to excisional biopsy for liver mass. Follow up of patients for both groups made by 6-12and18 months by clinical and radiological evaluation for tumor seeding along needle tract, distant spread and median survival. It has been showed that tumor seeding along needle tract didn't encountered in this study. Distant spread included brain, bone, lung and abdominal wall no statistically differ in both group, and seen in three patients of those underwent FNA (60%),and five patients of those didn’t undergo FNAC (62.5%) (P=0.7). Median overall survival rate was 13 months(8-18 months) in FNA group and 12 months in non-FNA group (8-16). The cumulative 6, 12- and 18 months overall survival were 80%, 60% and 40% respectively for FNAC group and 75%, 50 and 37.5% respectively for non FNAC group. There was no statistically differences between two groups (P= 0.77).