Serum Alpha Fetoprotein Levels And Its Correlation With Tumour Size In Hepatocellular Carcinoma In A Tertiary Hospital In Benin City, Southsouth Nigeria

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the commonest primary liver malignancy worldwide, with a higher prevalence in West Africa. Incidence is on the increase worldwide and in Nigeria, due to prevalence of hepatitis B infection. The need for tumour markers which  will be useful in screening for hepatocellular carcinoma and early detection of malignant transformation of chronic liver disease cannot be over emphasized. Serum alpha fetoprotein has been used as a tumour marker in screening and diagnosis of hepatocellularcarcinoma. Aim: To evaluate serum alpha fetoprotein levels and it's correlation with tumour size in subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma. Objective: To determine if serum alpha fetoprotein levels correlate with tumour size, and the role it may play in screening for and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Method: A Retrospective analytical study was carried out on 47 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and 13 diagnosed with chronic liver disease, who were admitted in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between October 2015 and August 2017. Clinical and biochemical data such as serum alpha fetoprotein levels, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasound and liver biopsy reports of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: 61.7% of the subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma had alpha fetoprotein levels greater than 10ng/ml. There was a  statistically significant difference between the mean of serum alpha fetoprotein in subjects with hepatocel lular carcinoma  (515.73±218.78mg/ml) and those with chronic liver disease (6.62±1.74mg/ml) p<0.05. Mean tumour size was 9.52±0.92cm. Serum alpha fetoprotein correlated significantly with tumour size, r = 0.643, p < 0.05. Conclusion: Our study suggests that serum alpha fetoprotein estimation may be useful in screening for and in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Keyword: Alpha fetoprotein (AFP), Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Chronic liver disease (CLD