Frequency of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent complication of liver. Portal vein thrombosis is common in HCC patients and associated with poor prognosis. But evidence lacks for local population. Objective: To assess the frequency of portal vein thrombosis in diagnosed patients of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting at DHQ hospital, Gujranwala. Methods: After permission from the ethical committee, this cross sectional study was done at the Department of Gastroenterology, DHQ hospital, Gujranwala from 19-03-2021 to 19-09-2021. Total 125 patients were selected from OPD. Informed consent was taken. All patients underwent Doppler ultrasound to diagnose the portal vein thrombosis. All data was analyzed in SPSS 22. Results: Total of 125 patients, 16.8 %( n=21) were in age group of 20-40 years and 83.2 %/(n=104) were in age group of 41-60 years. Mean age was 45.52+45.05 years. Distribution of size of hepatocellular carcinoma was 4.03+0.906 cm. There were 72.0 %( n=90) male whereas 28.0% (n=35) were females. According to the type of hepatocellular carcinoma, 64.8% (n=81) had naive and 35.2% (n=44) recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. Total of 125 patients, 64.0% (n=80) had single and 36.0% (n=45) had multiple hepatocellular carcinoma. Frequency of portal vein thrombosis was 29.6% (n=37) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: We concluded that portal vein thrombosis is common in patients with HCC. An early diagnosis of Portal vein thrombosis along with the evaluation of the volume of portal vein thrombosis on CT and an early intervention is necessary.