Clinical significance of serum ferritin determination for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The clinical significance of serum ferritin as a serological marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was studied. Fasting serum ferritin levels were measured in 343 patients with diseases of the liver, using a radioimmunoassay ferritin kit. Elevated ferritin levels were obtained in various liver diseases but hyperferritinemia could be more clearly interpreted by classifying ferritin levels according to serum iron or transaminase values. Significantly higher values were obtained in HCC than liver cirrhosis. Sensitivity for diagnosis of HCC increased by serial and simultaneous determinations of ferritin and alpha-fetoprotein because high ferritin levels were observed more often in low alpha-fetoprotein-producing HCC and also in HBsAg negative, alcohol related, small-sized HCC. Therefore, simultaneous determination of alpha-fetoprotein and ferritin seems to be useful for detection of HCC in high risk patients such as those with liver cirrhosis.