Abstract: Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the fourth most common cancer worldwide.Also,it is the second most common malignant tumor in China,and it is often found in the middle-aged male.The aim of this study is to elucidate the clinical characteristics and common causes of death in patients with HCC in Beijing,and to provide reasonable bases for prevention,screening and treatment of HCC.Methods A total of 26,416 hospitalized patients who had liver diseases in our hospital from Jan 2002 to Dec 2005 were analysed retrospectivly.Of these patients,the number of fatal cases was 895,and 412 patients were died of hepatocellular carcinoma,among which,16 cases were excluded because of incomplete clinical material,so altogether 396 fatal with HCC were enrolled in this study in which patients the 373 patients were diagnosed as primary hepatocellular carcinoma,and 23 secondary hepatocellular carcinoma.Results During the recent 4 years in Beijing area,the mortality rate of liver diseases was 3.38%,in which liver cancer patients accounted for 46.82% and cirrhosis of liver patients accounted for 29.32%.hepatocellular carcinoma increased significantly(from 37.9% in 2002 to 44.5% in 2005).The pure HBV infected persons accounted for 77.02%,the pure HCV infected accounted for 4.55%,the AFP positive rate(>500 μg/L) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma accounted for 49.4%,the CA199 positive rate(>100 kU/L) accounted for 55%.In 396 fatal patients with the concurrent upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred 49.49%;in which esophageal hemorrhage was the primary cause;the abdominal hemorrhage occurred in 10.10%.Because of the digestive tract hemorrhages the hemorrhagic shock accounted for 46.2% as the direct cause of death.Hepatic encephalopathy accounted for 55.30%.The ascites formation in 92.42%.The spontaneous bacterial peritonitis merged shock accounted for 3.28%.The hepatorenal syndrome rate was 37.88%,which was responsible for 14.65% of the direct cause of death.Liver failure accounted for 63.64%.Conclusion During recent years,the mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing.Primary liver cancer has become the maincause of liver disease deaths.Coexistence of multiple omplications s the leading cause of death for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Joint examination of AFP and CA199 may improve the early diagnosis of liver cancer.

Key words: hepatic carcinoma(HCC), tumor mark, death