Significance of Platelet, AFP & Liver function tests in Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is defined as a tumor of the liver and is classified as the primary liver cancer as it is a malignant tumor composed of hepatocytes cells. It's one of the most common malignancies in adults, and is extra common in men than women. Overall, the mortality rate was 1,000,000 deaths within year. The majority of HCC appears to be caused by cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus. Therefore, the aim of this study is diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma as significance correlation to platelet, alpha-fetoprotein and liver enzyme function tests as bilirubin, GGT, ALT and AST to 128 patients in egyption population by using automated ELISA technique for screening blood tests, hematology analyzer for counting platelet and automated kinetic detection of liver enzyme function tests. The results of 128 patient samples were divided to normal patients result 36 (28%) and abnormal patients result of HCC 92 (72%) of total 128 samples. Data recorded from various liver diagnostic tests had revealed that low platelet count were 68 (53%) while normal platelet count 60 (47%) and high AFP were 79 (62%) while normal AFP 49 (38%) and high AST 56 (44%) while normal AST 72 (56%) and high ALT were 57 (45%) while normal ALT 71 (55%) and high GGT 67 (52%) while normal GGT 61 (48%) and high bilirubin 34 (37%) while normal bilirubin 58 (63%).To conclude, blood screening tests as AFP is not an accurate indication for HCC. Several cases could be suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma but their AFP is within normal range. So, the most accurate way to diagnose and detect the hepatocellular carcinoma is by using imaging techniques as triphasic computed tomography abdomen and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.