Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of alpha-Fetoprotein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Both or Neither?

Abstract

The evaluation of this large series of HCC patients allowed us to: confirm the low sensitivity (54%) of AFP in the diagnosis of HCC and its prognostic value, albeit limited, being tumor size, female sex (intriguingly enough), Child-Pugh score, and TNM staging independent predictors.