Minerva medica
-
Comparative Study
[Primary hepatocarcinoma. Epidemiologic case-control study in the province of Bergamo].
This is the first epidemiological study of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in the province of Bergamo, an area well-known to have a high incidence of HBsAg (9.1%) and chronic alcoholic liver disease. 72 cases of HCC (60 male, 12 female) al from the province of Bergamo and encountered in 1980-84 were subjected to an epidemiological case-control study. Analysis of the results confirmed the role of certain known Risk Factors (RF) with a prevalence of male sex (83.3%), age (mean age 63), association with live cirrhosis (79.2%) and HBsAg+ (31.9%). Such findings are in line with the Italian average found in previous studies. ⋯ These data confirm the importance of current HBV infection (HBsAg+), in the province, though the presence or absence of cirrhosis probably influences its significance. The approximate incidence of HCC is 9.7%/100,000/year. Considering the limitations of data on a small monocentric study in a limited area (USSL no. 30) the figure is probably underestimated and the real incidence probably higher.