Introduction. Moldova is the European country with the highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both sexes. There is, however, no data comprehensively describing the presentation and the risk factors of HCC in the country. We decided to analyze cases of HCC recently received in a tertiary healthcare Institution from Chisinau, the Moldovian capital. Methods. A series of 148 primary liver tumors including 139 cases of HCC were retrospectively analyzed for demographic features, serological and biochemical data, and clinical presentation. Results. The mean age of patients was 59 ± 10 years (range: 19-66) with a M:F sex ratio of 1.9. Tumors appeared on full-blown liver cirrhosis in 83% of cases and were composed of multiple nodules at diagnosis in 36% of patients. Serum Alpha-fetoprotein was exceeding 10ng/mL in 76% of cases. Liver tumor and hepatitis were co-discovered in 34% of cases. More than 81% of hepatocellular carcinomas were associated with at least one hepatitis virus. Carriers of anti-hepatitis C virus were predominating (55% of cases) over patients seropositive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (36%). Half of the latter were also infected with hepatitis Delta virus. In total, dual or triple infections were present in 24% and 7% of cases. Conclusions. The burden of infections with hepatitis viruses is particularly important in Moldova and corresponds to a situation commonly observed in countries of the Southern hemisphere. A pro-active policy of screening for persistent liver infection targeting population at risk of HCC (> 50 years) and coupled with the distribution of antivirals in positive cases should be rapidly implemented in Moldova to reduce incidence or primary liver cancer.

Aim. To evaluate the late results of staged endoscopic treatment of patients with corrosive bile duct strictures.Materials and methods. The study included 41 patients with corrosive bile duct strictures varying in etiology and localization. The patients were observed over a seven-year period, most of whom had already undergone endoscopic treatment.Results. The technical success rate amounted to 100%. The procedure of staged stenting was completed in 34 out of 37 patients under observation. The clinical success rate, defined as the release of a stricture, reached 94%. In the postoperative period, the incidence of complications amounted to 8.8%. Only 2 out of 34 patients who had undergone stenting exhibited stricture recurrence.Conclusion. The staged placement of multiple plastic stents is characterized by high technical and clinical success rates while involving few complications, as well as a consistently low rate of stricture recurrence in the long-term period.