Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Authors: Hans L. Tillman, Steve S. Choi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Letters6 November 2012Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Alcoholic CirrhosisHans L. Tillman, MD and Steve S. Choi, MDHans L. Tillman, MDFrom Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705.Search for more papers by this author and Steve S. Choi, MDFrom Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-9-201211060-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Health care budgets need to be streamlined. It is not only important to consider the potential benefits of screening in preventing and controlling future costs but to also critically reevaluate screening practices that might not be cost-effective (1). Jepsen and colleagues' article (2) indicates that screening for HCC might be unnecessary in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. A positive test result for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is a marker for occult hepatitis, which has been associated with increased risk for HCC in the range of 1.4 to 10 (relative risk) (3). One study on alcoholic ...References1. Laine C. High-value testing begins with a few simple questions [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:162-3. [PMID: 22250151] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Jepsen P, Ott P, Andersen PK, Sørensen HT, Vilstrup H. Risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: a Danish nationwide cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:841-7. [PMID: 22711076] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Shi Y, Wu YH, Wu W, Zhang WJ, Yang J, Chen Z. Association between occult hepatitis B infection and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Liver Int. 2012;32:231-40. [PMID: 21745272] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kwon OS, Jung YK, Bae KS, Kim JH, Kim SG, Kim YS, et al. Anti-hepatitis B core positivity as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in alcoholic cirrhosis: A case-control study. Alcohol. 2012;46:537-41. [PMID: 22572059] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. El-Serag HB. Epidemiology of viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology. 2012;142:1264-1273.e1. [PMID: 22537432] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705.Disclosures: Dr. Tillman: Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Novartis, Eli Lilly; Employment: spouse is an employee of Abbott; Grants/grants pending (money to institution): Roche, Vertex, Medtronic, Novartis (Germany): Stock/stock options: Abbott, Gilead Sciences. Dr. Choi: Travel/accommodations/meeting expenses unrelated to activities listed: Onyx Pharmaceuticals. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRisk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis Peter Jepsen , Peter Ott , Per Kragh Andersen , Henrik Toft Sørensen , and Hendrik Vilstrup Metrics 6 November 2012Volume 157, Issue 9Page: 677-678KeywordsAlcoholicsAlcoholsCirrhosisForecastingHealth careHepatitis AHepatitis BHepatocellular carcinoma ePublished: 6 November 2012 Issue Published: 6 November 2012 CopyrightCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...