RESUMO
The prognosis with large hepatocellular carcinomas is poor, and only palliative treatment is available. Small tumors are amenable to several modes of treatment, including liver transplantation, resection, or alcohol injection, with acceptable 5-year survival rates. Although the value of screening for hepatocellular carcinoma has yet to be shown, these data, coupled with the recognition of at-risk groups and useful diagnostic techniques, might encourage the clinician to screen at-risk patients in the clinic. New imaging techniques such as ultrasonographic angiography enhanced with CO2 microbubbles, or color Doppler ultrasound, may clarify the intratumoral blood flow of small tumors.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/etiologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/prevenção & controle , Neoplasias Hepáticas/etiologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/prevenção & controle , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Biópsia por Agulha , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Terapia Combinada , Humanos , Fígado/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Programas de RastreamentoRESUMO
Alcoholism is a major public health problem across the world. However, only a minority of individuals who abuse alcohol develop significant liver injury. Interactions between alcohol and hepatotrophic viruses, particularly hepatitis C virus, have been recognized for some time. The aim of this review is to examine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in individuals who abuse alcohol, and to discuss the association between hepatitis C virus infection and the histopathological and clinical findings in this group of patients. The possible pathogenesis of interaction between alcohol and hepatitis C virus is discussed briefly, and treatment options are examined.