Incidence of hepatic and extra-hepatic malignancies in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

Ital J Gastroenterol. 1993 Nov-Dec;25(9):473-6.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of malignancies in a large series of PBC patients from Italy. The overall sample included 178 patients (10 M, 168 F). The mean age at presentation was 52 yrs (range 29-74); 17 patients had histological stage I, 52 stage II, 66 stage III, 44 stage IV. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 16 years (mean 5 years). During the follow-up, extra-hepatic malignancies developed in 6 cases (3.3%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a further 4 patients, all associated with cirrhosis (2.2%). Breast cancer developed only in one patient, resulting in a crude incidence rate of 130/100.000 person years among females. The calculated crude incidence of HCC was 492.4/100.000 person years. Three of the four patients with HCC had a superinfection with HCV. In conclusion, the incidence of breast cancer is not significantly increased. HCC has a relatively high prevalence in PBC and HCV superinfection may play an important role in favouring HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / complications*
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Superinfection / complications