The BCLC staging system

The BCLC staging system looks at the number and size of tumours in the liver and at how well you are overall (your performance status - PS), as well as your liver function. To assess this, doctors usually use the Child-Pugh score (see below).

There are 5 stages to the BCLC staging system.

Stage 0 (Very early stage)

This means the tumour is less than 2cm, you feel well (PS 0) and your liver is working normally (Child-Pugh A).

Stage A (Early stage)

This means there is a single tumour of any size, or up to 3 tumours all less than 3 cm. You feel well and are active (PS 0), and your liver is working well (Child-Pugh A or B).

Stage B (Intermediate Stage)

This means there are many tumours in the liver, but you feel well (PS 0) and your liver is working well (Child-Pugh A or B).

Stage C (Advanced stage)

This means the cancer has spread into the blood vessels, lymph nodes or other body organs. Or you do not feel well and are less active (PS 1 or 2). Your liver is still working well. (Child-Pugh A or B).

Stage D

This means you have severe liver damage (Child-Pugh C), or you are not well and need help in being looked after (PS 3 or 4).

The Child-Pugh system

The Child-Pugh system looks at the following 5 things that tell how well the liver is working:

bilirubin levels in the blood
albumin levels in the blood (albumin is a protein made by the liver)
how quickly the blood clots (prothrombin time)
if there is fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
if the liver disease is affecting brain function (encephalopathy)

Each one is given a number score, and based on that score, people fall into 1 of 3 classes:

class A means the liver is working normally
class B means mild to moderate damage
class C means there is severe liver damage - unfortunately you may be too sick to have treatment for the cancer

Performance status (PS)

Performance status (PS) is a scale to grade how well you are. The BCLC staging system uses the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale:

PS 0 – you are fully active, more or less as you were before your illness
PS 1 – you can’t carry out heavy physical work, but can do anything else
PS 2 – you are up and about more than half the day. You can look after yourself but can’t work
PS 3 – you are in bed or a chair for more than half the day. You need help to look after yourself
PS 4 – you are in bed or a chair all the time and need complete care

参考来源：生信技能树

友情链接：

课程分享
生信技能树全球公益巡讲
（https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/E9ykuIbc-2Ja9HOY0bn_6g）
B站公益74小时生信工程师教学视频合辑
（https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IyFK7l_WBAiUgqQi8O7Hxw）
招学徒：
（https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KgbilzXnFjbKKunuw7NVfw）

欢迎关注公众号：青岛生信菜鸟团