Primary carcinoma of the liver in Mexican adults

Among 6558 autopsies performed in the General Hospital of Mexico City, only 37 (0.56%) cases of primary hepatic carcinoma were found despite an exceedingly high incidence (13.4%) of cirrhosis. Two thirds of the liver cell carcinoma coexisted with cirrhosis and 0.26% of all cases of cirrhosis were complicated by primary liver carcinoma. This low incidence of hepatic cancer has also been encountered in other Latin American countries. A tendency of liver cell carcinoma to appear predominantly in macronodular types of cirrhosis was documented, and the fact that cirrhosis in Mexico is more often micronodular is suggested as an explanation for the gap in the incidences of cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma. It is suggested that gross classification of cancer of the liver be based on extension of the tumor within the liver rather than on appearance because of the difficulties in using uniform nomenclature and because of the surgical importance of intrahepatic distribution of the tumor.