Abstracts of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the ALEH
More infoHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor (85–90%) and one of the leading causes of death among cirrhotic patients.
To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with HCC at a referral hospital in Lima, Peru.
Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional observational study including 282 patients diagnosed with HCC at the Liver Unit of HNERM-EsSalud between 2016 and 2023.
Results62% of patients were male, with a mean age of 65.4 years (range: 16–92). Cirrhosis was present in 78.4% of cases. The most common etiology was MASLD (52%), followed by hepatitis B (16.3%) and hepatitis C (13%). Liver function was classified as Child-Pugh A in 53%, B in 30%, and C in 17%. Only 40% were enrolled in a screening program. Tumor stage according to BCLC was: 0–A in 40%, B in 18.6%, C in 6%, and D in 33%. Serum AFP>200 ng/mL was observed in 45% of cases. Treatments included transarterial chemoembolization (21%), radiofrequency ablation (5.3%), surgery (15.6%), liver transplantation (6.4%), systemic therapy (6%), and palliative care (39%).
When comparing cirrhotic vs non-cirrhotic patients, hepatitis B was more frequent in the non-cirrhotic group (P<0.001), with larger tumors (11.1 cm vs. 5.3 cm, P<0.001), higher AFP levels, and lower screening rates.
ConclusionsMASLD was the leading cause of HCC overall, while hepatitis B predominated in non-cirrhotic patients. Only 40% underwent screening. Patients in early stages had access to better treatment options.
