Recently, hepatic experts in Guangdong launched a liver cancer risk assessment. Patients with hepatitis B and early cirrhosis were called for liver cancer screening and risk assessment once in every six to twelve months.

Yang Jiong, director of Guangdong Lingnan Institute of Liver diseases, who was in charge of the project, gave a profile of the liver cancer in China. Every year about 34.4 million people died of liver cancer in China, accounting for 55% of the world's liver cancer deaths. It is because that liver cancer in early stage is difficult to detect, and once discovered at least 80% are in advanced stage.

Furthermore, Yang indicated hepatitis B virus infection was the main pathogenic factor of liver cancer. The liver cancer incidence in hepatitis B virus carriers is 200 times higher than in the healthy population. In particular, it is much higher in patients with "three positive", which had a symptom of abnormal liver function as well as high levels of viral replication, and "HHA" accompanied with splenomegaly. As Liver cancer is preventable and curable, it is not horrible. 90% cases occurred due to improper treatment for hepatitis, no screening, alcohol and some other causes.

During a research period of six years, Guangdong Lingnan Institute of Liver Diseases discovered the most important six factors causing liver cancer, which were age, albumin, bilirubin, DNA of hepatitis B virus, thymidine kinase, and liver cirrhosis. Additionally, liver cancer risk index had been introduced into the assessment system, which was ranged from point of 0 to 49.5. And the risk was assessed by the points. When a patient scored below 10 points, he had low risk to get liver cancer. For medium risk group, the score was between 10 to 30 points, and above 30 points was classified as high risk group.

Finally, Yang gave a comment on the liver cancer risk assessment system. It could help doctors make an accurate assessment on patients with hepatitis B, and reduce unnecessary examinations and medication. Special equipments were not needed in this system. However, the common clinical laboratory tests were contributed to the six indicators, with a total score of 49.5 points. The higher the score was, the more possible the patient got liver cancer.