Predisposing factors for hep hepatocellular carcinoma in North of Pakistan

Objectives: the main objective of this study was to search for predisposing factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in north of pakistan. material and method: this study was conducted in medical units of khyber teaching hospital,peshawar,from july 2007 to february 2009. a total of 100 patients were selected. the main tools for the diagnosis of hcc were ultrasound abdomen,ct scan abdomen,serum alpha-feto protein and liver biopsy. results: out of one hundred,80 patients were males,72% patients were above the age of 60 years. hcv was present in 74% of our patents,13 (13%) patients turned out to be hbsag positive,in 04 patients both hcv & hbv were present,while in the rest of 09 (09%) patients no predisposing cause found. cirrhosis was present in 80% of patients; the p-value being 0.538. serum afp was raised in 72% of patients. conclusion: it is concluded that chronic hcv infection is the commonest cause of hcc.