BACKGROUND/AIMS: Screening for @entity157 ( @entity157 ) is a common practice in the endemic countries but its exact role has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether screening can achieve early diagnosis and survival benefits. METHODS: All @entity157 @entity1 diagnosed at our hospital (September 1994 April 2000) were enrolled; They were divided into two groups; a surveilled group screened with @entity160 ( @entity160 ) and ultrasound (US) for longer than 6 months before diagnosis and a non-surveilled group. We compared the @entity5 size, @entity715 , and stage at initial diagnosis and survival rate between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 247 @entity1 were enrolled. 64 were in the surveilled group and 183 were in the non-surveilled group. The @entity5 size at initial diagnosis in the surveilled group was smaller than in the non-surveilled group (2.6 +/- 2.0 cm vs. 5.7 +/- 4.1 cm, p<0.05). The percentages of @entity1 with stage I, II, III, and IV were 42.2%, 20.3%, 14.1%, 23.4% in the surveilled group and 8.7%, 19.7%, 36.6%, 35.0% in the non-surveilled group. A significantly higher proportion in the surveilled group had earlier stage compared with the non-surveilled group (p<0.05). @entity715 in the surveilled group was noticed as significantly less than in the non-surveilled group (9.4% vs. 26.8%, p<0.05). Among @entity1 -Pugh A @entity1 , the cumulative survival rate in the surveilled group was significantly higher than in the non-surveilled group (1 year; 91.4% vs. 70.7%, 2 year; 71.5% vs. 59.9%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Screening with @entity160 and US is a useful tool for early diagnosis of @entity157 , especially with improved survival in @entity1 -Pugh A @entity1 .

[Early diagnosis and improved survival with screening for XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Child', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity160 :: ('174', 'Gene') :: ['alpha-fetoprotein', 'AFP'] @entity157 :: ('MESH:D006528', 'Disease') :: ['HCC', 'hepatocellular carcinoma'] @entity715 :: ('MESH:D013927', 'Disease') :: ['Portal vein thrombosis', 'portal vein thrombosis']
@entity157 :: (MESH:D006528,Disease) :: ['hepatocellular carcinoma']
