Liver tumors and diseases on the rise, alarm in Sassari: 400 new patients a year
The local Aou records "worrying numbers" and invites the population to undergo screening and tests
The Hepatology facility in Sassari records worrying numbers on hepatocarcinoma, the most frequent primary liver tumor, the sixth in incidence.
Cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are increasing, despite progress in medical research, and represent the second cause of death from cancer worldwide.
Most of these primary tumors are attributable to factors such as infection with hepatitis C and B viruses, steatohepatitis and autoimmune liver diseases. Since January 2023, the department directed by the director of Hepatology of the Aou of Sassari, Giuliano Alagna, which from 18 October changed from an outpatient service to a simple departmental structure with 6 beds foreseen by the company act, has carried out over 2300 visits, has taken in load 1060 patients with an average age of 55 years. Of these, approximately 200 had non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, known as Nafld/Nash or "fatty liver", therefore 150 had viral hepatitis B and C, another 150 approximately alcoholic hepatitis, 120 with autoimmune liver disease and still others suffering from liver cirrhosis or primary tumors of the liver.
«The numbers are high – says Alagna – and, despite the treatment capacity achieved in recent years, in our clinic we see around 400 new patients a year with serious liver diseases of various etiologies. Liver disease therefore remains an important problem from the point of view of morbidity and mortality."
«If there is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B – points out Giuliano Alagna – for C we do not have this option available, which is why screening and eradication become fundamental». Hepatology doctors and nurses were also involved with Emergency, specifically in targeted screening on particular segments of the population.
«Some forms of hepatitis are linked to particular lifestyles – recalls the specialist – and can evolve towards fibrosis, cirrhosis and, indeed, primary liver tumors». The work is carried out in close synergy with other company structures. The Hepatology structure also participates in the national register for primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis.
«The latter – explains Alagna – has a higher prevalence on our island than in other Italian regions, due to a genetic predisposition of the Sardinian population to the development of pathologies inherent to the immune system». The facility is also a reference center for rare liver diseases, such as Wilson's disease and Gaucher's disease.
