Introduction: Preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein levels can have predictive value for hepatocellular carcinoma survival.
Aim: Our aim was to analyze the correlation between preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and survival, following the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: Nineteen patients were prospectively followed (07/2005-01/2016). An ROC curve was created to determine the sensitivity and specificity of alpha-fetoprotein in relation to survival (Kaplan-Meier).
Results: Of the 19 patients evaluated, 57.9% were men. The mean patient age was 68.1 ± 8.5 years and survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 89.4, 55.9, and 55.9%. The alpha-fetoprotein cutoff point was 15.1 ng/ml (sensitivity 100%, specificity 99.23%). Preoperative alpha-fetoprotein levels below 15.1, 200, 400, and 463 ng/ml correlated with better 1 and 5-year survival rates than levels above 15.1, 200, 400, and 463 ng/ml (P<.05).
Conclusions: Elevated preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein levels have predictive value for hepatocellular carcinoma survival.
Keywords: Alfafetoproteína; Alpha-fetoprotein; Hepatocarcinoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver resection; Resección hepática; Sobrevida; Survival.
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