Alpha-Fetoprotein question

[Magnum]

Got my liver panel results. Doctor said the Alpha-Fetoprotein is a little elevated and that he's going to keep an eye on it. Nothing to worry about now.

However, the test result for that particular test reads:

Results To Follow:

ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, TUMOR [01]

Doctor said not to worry about it, but it sounds scary to me.

Anyone?


Magnum

[illo]

Mine are elevated, too.  Doc said not to worry even tho my liver is cirrhotic.  Nothing showed up in the biopsy.  Lucky.

[GrandmaA]

When mine was a little elevated 2 different doctors got excited and thought I had tumors. When I went in for another biopsy both the doctor and the ultrasound technician could find NOTHING. There was nothing there. Later I learned from another hepatologist you have to be in stage 4 to have tumors.

[LSRL]

Is there an actual result on the test?  It says "results to follow."  I'd check for the actual number and also the normal range so you have more info.

[Valtod]

Results To Follow:
ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, TUMOR [01]
-----------

The full name of the test is ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, TUMOR MARKER. It's just abbreviated here. And the value is not given here because "Results To Follow". That means this portion of the test is not ready yet. You have only partial results from your bloodwork (let's say only the CBC). You have to call your Dr's office in a day or two and ask for the full results of your lab test.

They should give you a number for AFP (ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN). For example, 2.2. Any number less than 6.1 is considered in normal range. However, even if elevated (between 10 and 100), it still does not mean you have HCC (liver cancer). Because many people with HCV (on or off treatment) have elevated AFP for long periods of time, anyway.

I think many researches find  the AFP test useless because it has "no or minimal diagnostic value". It's not sure that even 1 out of 10 people with elevated AFP would have HCC. On the other hand, some people with an early stage of HCC won't have the AFP tumor marker increased. Basically, an elevated AFP has any value only as a confirmation AFTER the cancer diagnosis is done by other means (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc.) Let's say a radiologist, reading a CT scan, sees a mass in the liver that looks with "90% certainty" as a tumor. In THIS case an elevated AFP would raise the accuracy of the diagnosis to 99%.

The sad reality is that even ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI are not very reliable in diagnosing HCC in an EARLY stage. On the other hand, when they can diagnose FOR SURE a liver malignancy, it's usually too late for successful intervention.

Wish you luck!

[Harry Potter]

Yes, the alpha-fetoprotein is measured, usually in either nanograms (n/g) or I.U.'s.  Mine is slightly elevated as well.   The "normal" cutoff range for n/g is 15.0 from my hospital; mine has ranged from 20.9 at the high to 18.4 since I've been diagnosed.  

The measurement in I.U.'s is lower, I think 7.0 is the upper end of normal.

I had an ultrasound too, no tumors, but it did show gallstones (darn it!)

My doctor wants me to get periodic bloodwork for the AFP & yearly (or so) ultrasounds; your dr. may prescribe something similar for you, at least until the AFP comes back down to normal range.  Good luck!

[HCA]

AFP is a warning sign of liver cancer when it is notably raised,but slightly raised is nothing to worry about.If your doctor was concerned he would order an ultrasound scan.You can ask him if you think you should have one.