Hepatocarcinoma: prevalência, características epidemiológicas e fatores de risco

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma corresponds to the most frequent primary liver cancer, affecting about 90% of cases. Among the main triggers of this disease are infection by hepatitis B and C viruses, liver cirrhosis, exposure to aflatoxin, as well as metabolic diseases such as hepatic steatosis and type 2 diabetes. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in a population from the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul state, as well as to describe the demographic characteristics, epidemiological profile, and average survival of diagnosed individuals. The methodology employed was a quantitative, retrospective, and descriptive study of participants diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, treated at Fundação Hospitalar Santa Terezinha de Erechim and Centro de Oncologia Clínica e Radioterapia de Erechim, from 2011 to 2021. The research involved 26 individuals, of which 13 were considered eligible. This study outlined the clinical profile of the participants, predominantly male, with a mean age of 63 years old at diagnosis. It was observed that hepatopathies (61.54%) represent the main predisposing factor, liver cirrhosis (53.85%) which is considered the most common. Despite the unfavorable clinical outcome, the average survival of the participants was calculated at 15,7 months.