Table 2

Baseline characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in Toronto in 257 patients

VariableNo (%) (n=257)
*More than 100% due to multiple symptoms in some patients.
HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; AFP, alpha fetoprotein.
Mean age (y)60.1 (12.5)
Median age (y)63
Sex male188 (73.1)
Country of origin(missing data 4)
    South-East Asia123 (48.6)
    Canada44 (17.3)
    Europe south33 (13.0)
    Other53 (20.1)
Main risk factors(missing data 6)
    HBV147 (58.5)
    HCV54 (21.5)
Alcohol39 (15.5)
Diagnosis
    Biopsy or surgical specimen173 (67.3)
    Clinical/radiological+AFP >400 ng/ml49 (19.1)
    Clinical/radiological35 (13.6)
Symptoms(missing data 21)
    Asymptomatic patients.122 (51.7)
    Symptomatic patients (before diagnosis)114 (48.3)
        Constitutional symptoms*82/122 (67.2)
        Abdominal symptoms*65/114 (57.0)
Non-tumorous liver(missing data 13)
    Cirrhosis178 (73.0)
    Chronic hepatitis59 (24.2)
    Normal liver7 (2.8)
AFP levels
    >400 ng/ml105 (40.8)
    11–400 ng/ml92 (35.8)
    ≤10 ng/ml60 (23.4)
Tumour type
    Unifocal107 (41.6)
    Multifocal75 (29.2)
    Diffuse massive75 (29.2)
Vascular macroscopic invasion43 (16.7)
Metastasis at diagnosis15 (5.8)
Treatments*
    Resection/transplantation/alcohol72/0/23 (37.0)
    Chemoembolisation and experimental29 (11.3)
    Palliative, Chinese herbal, tamoxiphen133 (51.7)