Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-associated mortality globally.
Aim: To evaluate the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade as a prognostic tool in assessing cases undergoing hepatectomy for early post-operative complications in comparison to other scores/grades.
Patients and methods: This prospective research has been performed on 42 cases with HCC that were subjected to elective hepatic resection at the National Liver Institute at Menoufia University.
Results: The ALBI score had 66.7% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity at a threshold value of > 2 with AUC = 0.825 and was highly significant (P = 0.001). The CHILD score had a 55.6% sensitivity and 75.8% specificity at a threshold value of > 5% with AUC = 0.640 and was non-significant (p = 0.136). The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score at a threshold value 8.35 had 100% sensitivity and 21.2% specificity, with AUC = 0.519, and was non-significant (P = 0.868).
Conclusion: The albumin-bilirubin score demonstrated greater predictive value for liver cell failure compared with the Child-Pugh score as well as the model for end-stage liver disease score. The ALBI score, as well as bilirubin can be used as independent predictors for liver cell failure and bile leak post-hepatic resection in HCC patients.