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Prognosis
Prognosis depends on the results and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma. In most cases, alfa-fetoprotein results suggest bigger tumors when it is higher than 400 ng/mL. These tumors may involve two lobes and cause portal vein thrombosis. When this happens, the chance of survival decreases. The prospect of survival is even lower if alfa-fetoprotein reaches 1000 ng/mL.
However, AFP levels are only auxiliary ways to evaluate prognosis. The TNM staging system is fundamental in this regard. Patients with a localized disease (not spread to other organs) have a 32.6% chance of survival after 5 years. In the case of regional disease (nearby spread without distant organ metastasis), the chance of survival is 10.8% in 5 years. But in an advanced stage, with metastasis to distant organs, the chance of survival in 5 years is only 2.4%.
