CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A FIVE-YEAR SINGLE-CENTRE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY josephsol87@gmail.com

PW02-06

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A FIVE-YEAR SINGLE-CENTRE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

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Ethiopia

Oral or Poster

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant neoplasm originating from hepatocytes, accounting for approximately 80% of all liver cancers. Globally, HCC ranks as the 6th most common malignancy and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The incidence of HCC exhibits geographic variability. HCC emerges as multifaceted disease with diverse potential etiologies.

The study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from April 2017 to March 2023. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional study design, we focused on adult patients diagnosed with HCC. The source population encompassed all adults within the study area who were diagnosed with HCC, while the study population comprised those diagnosed with HCC during the study period.

Among the 145 diagnosed cases, 106 were male and 39 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. The age range spanned from 18 to 91 years, with a median (IQR) age of 55 (40-63). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) emerged as the leading cause of HCC, accounting for 32.41% of cases, while hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 19.31% of HCC patients. HBV-HCV co-infection was identified in three patients. A substantial proportion (50.34%) of cases remained of unknown or other etiology. Alcohol use was reported in 34.48% of HCC patients, and 11.03% of patients had diabetes.

Most HCC patients presenting at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital were not identified through surveillance. Furthermore, most HCC cases do not meet criteria for either surgical or non-surgical interventions. Health facilities should prioritize policies aimed at preventing HBV/HCV transmission and implementing surveillance for high-risk groups.