The use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis, staging and therapy of Essay

The use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis, staging and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma - Essay ExampleAlso, the incidence of HCC worldwide varies according to the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections. In the US, the incidence is 4 cases per 100,000. In areas much(prenominal) as Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the rates are as high as 120 cases per 100,000 (Stuart, 2006). It occurs more comm exclusively in men than in women. The median age of diagnosis the United States and Europeis 65 years. In the African and Asian countries where the incidence is high, the age of diagnosis can be even in the fourth and 5th decades.The median survival from the time of diagnosis is gener totallyy 6 months. Length of survival depends more often than not on the extent of cirrhosis in the liver. Cirrhotic patients have shorter survival times, and in cases ofportal vein occlusion, the aspect is even worse (Stuart, 2006). Curethrough surgeryis possible in less than 5% of all patients. Due to the multifocality nature of the tumor and invasion of the tumor into portal vein, surgical resection can be performed only in 20% cases (Wu, 2005). Death in HCC occurs referable to hepatic failure, cachexia, variceal bleeding or even due(p) to tumor rupture and bleeding into the peritoneum.The patients generally present with symptoms related to cirrhosis like pruritus, jaundice, variceal bleeding, cachexia, pain in the hepatic region, increasing abdominal girth, splenomegaly and hepatic encephalopathy (Stuart, 2006). The etiology of cirrhosis could be alcohol induced, infections due to Hepatitis B or C, hemochromatosis, aflatoxin or even primary biliary cirrhosis, androgenic steroids, primary sclerosing cholangitis, 1-antitrypsin deficiency, Thorotrast radioactive contrast, oral examination contraceptives, and porphyria cutanea tarda (Stuart, 2006). In about 80% of cases, cirrhosis is the cause. However, 20% of cases are due to noncirrhotic, nonviral causes (Ulmer, 2000).Liver b eing the largest pipe organ in the body varies considerably in size and configuration from