This study was carried out in 100 patients of primary carcinoma of the liver confirmed by needle or open surgical biopsy.
The cases studied involved the patients who admitted to the departments of internal medicine and general surgery, Busan National University Hospital, Saint Benedict´s Hospital and Busan Gospel Hospital during the period from Jan. 1970 to Sept. 1975.
The following results were obtained:
1. The ratio of male to female was 6.8: 1 and the age ranged from 23 years old to 68 years old. The highest was 48 cases in 5th decade.
2. Duration from onset to, diagnosis was 5 months in 89 cases.
3. The chief complaints are abdominal pain, indigestion or anorexia, weight loss, fatigability and dyspnea in order of frequency.
4. Physical examination showed hepatomegaly, tender liver, ascites, jaundice, fever, peripheral edema, vascular spider and splenomegaly in order of frequency.
5. A hemoglobin level below 13. 0 gm% was seen in 77% of total cases and WBC count between 5, 000 /mm and 10,000/mm was seen in 72% of total cases.
6. Urobilinogenuria was positive in 37 (40.2%) of 92 cases and bile in urine positive in 35 (61.4%) of 57 cases.
7. Clonorchis sinensis infestation was found in 31% of cases.
8. Liver function tests showed BSP retention in 91.6%, SGOT elevation in 68.4% and hypoalbuminemia in 65% in order of frequency.
9. Among 52 cases of primary hepatoma, alphafetoprotein was positive in 28 (53.8%) of 52 cases.
10. Liver scanning showed cold area in 72(90%) of 80 cases: 77.8% in right lobe, 11, 1 %, in left lobe, 6.9% in both lobe and 4.2% in porta hepatis.
11. Pathological classification of 100 cases were 90 cases of liver cell carcinoma, 9 cases of cholangiocellular carcinoma and 1 case of mixed carcinoma.
12. 31 (78.5%) of 42 cases were associated with liver cirrhosis, 80.1% of which were macronodular.
13. Incidence of remote metastasis was 23% of total cases, the most frequency being in the lung.
14. 28(87.5%) of 32 cases were died within 6 months after biopsy.
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