The natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma. A study of 100 untreated cases.

The natural course of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated in 100 untreated patients who were seen during recent 13 years. There were 80 males and 20 females. The macroscopic type of tumor was massive in 58, nodular in 35, and diffuse in 7 cases. Liver cirrhosis was associated with in 80% of patients. The mean survival time of overall patients was 4 months from the onset of initial symptoms to death and 2 months from admission to death. Occult and cirrhotic types of HCC showed a longer survival than frank and febrile types that had a mean survival time of all patients. The prognosis of icteric and metastatic types was poorest. Sex, tumor type, or associated cirrhosis did not substantially affect the natural course of HCC. The tumor stage and clinical stage were grossly correlated to the prognosis. In terms of symptoms, severe jaundice and ascites were the most dismal prognostic signs.