Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma often occurs in cirrhotics, though patients with Hepatitis C may develop HCC without Cirrhosis.

Prevalence

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Hepatocellular Carcinoma are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Sensitive and Specific Findings

97.1%

100%

Recent performance at one institution. Sensitivity for lesions <2 cm was 82.6%

Older literature has sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 85%

Study: Radiology. 2011 Dec;261(3):824-33. Epub 2011 Oct 3. PMID 21969663

Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Mar;101(3):513-23. PMID: 16542288

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
AFP Duplicate	31%	99%	AFP > 100 in patients with chronic liver disease Study: J Hepatol 2001 Apr;34(4):570-5. PMID 11394657
AFP Duplicate	22%	99%	AFP > 200 in patients with chronic liver disease Study: J Hepatol 2001 Apr;34(4):570-5. PMID 11394657
Abdominal US	78.8%	93.8%	hepatitis B Study: Hepatology 1995 Aug;22(2):432-8. PMID 7543434
Abdominal CT	68%	93%	Study: Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Mar;101(3):513-23. PMID: 16542288
AFP Duplicate	60%	91%	AFP > 20 in patients with chronic liver disease Study: J Hepatol 2001 Apr;34(4):570-5. PMID 11394657
AFP Duplicate	62%	89%	AFP > 16 mcg/L, in pts with chronic liver disease Study: J Hepatol 2001 Apr;34(4):570-5. PMID 11394657