Use of surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with cirrhosis in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is recommended but may not be performed. The extent and determinants of HCC surveillance are unknown. We conducted a population-based United States cohort study of patients over 65 years of age to examine use and determinants of prediagnosis surveillance in patients with HCC who were previously diagnosed with cirrhosis. Patients diagnosed with HCC during 1994-2002 were identified from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results registry-Medicare databases. We identified alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ultrasound tests performed for HCC surveillance, and examined factors associated with surveillance. We identified 1,873 HCC patients with a prior diagnosis of cirrhosis. In the 3 years before

SUBMITTER: Davila JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3835698 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature