Nozaina Iram*, Muhammad Zakir, Imran Yousaf, Syed Muhammad Yousaf Farooq, Amna Akhtar, Sidra Mehmood, Saliha Tariq, Faker Un Nisa Bhatti and Rija Zaigham
Background
Hepatitis C is a common liver illness that affects people all over the world. It is caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and a significant number of patients develop chronic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver cancer as a result. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a type of liver cancer that can be detected when a person has hepatitis B, C, diabetes, obesity, or alcohol addiction. It is diagnosed with the help of Multi - Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scan.
Objective
To evaluate the frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis C on multidetector computed tomography.
Methodology
A cross sectional analytical study was conducted at Shalimar Hospital Lahore. It included 195 patients suffering from Hepatitis C Convenient sampling method was used. The inclusion criteria were adults with hepatitis c or had history of hepatitis c. The exclusion criteria were pregnant women, patients who had an allergic reaction to contrast medium, patients who had undergone a nuclear medicine procedure in the past. The presence of HCC was confirmed using a 64 slice CT scanner. Triassic contrast enhanced imaging was done. Images were interpreted by a senior radiologist. Frequency was calculated and crosstabs were made using SPSS version 21.0.
Results
Among 195 patients, frequency of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) was 63 (32.3 %) which was more common in male as compared to female. In male its occurrence was 130 (66.7 %) while in female 65 (33.3 %). Frequency of various risk factors and clinical features were as follows: alcohol consumption 3(1.5 %), cirrhosis 52 (26.7) %, obesity 55 (28.2 %), diabetes 65 (33.3 %), jaundice 110 (56.4 %), dark colored urine 127 (65.1 %), nausea and vomiting 114 (58.5 %), weakness 118 (60.5 %) and bloating 41 (21 %).
Conclusion
The study concluded that frequency of HCC in patients with HCV was 32.3 % and was more common in males as compared to the females.
