Title: CLINICAL MANIFESTATION, STAGING AND PROGNOSIS OF
HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN GAMBIAN PATIENTS
Version: 2 Date: 12 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
The study seeks to assesses the clinical features, stage, and prognostic variables of patients with
HCC in The Gambia. There is a need for observational studies from West Africa on HCC,
however this manuscript in its current state falls below the standard of BMC Gastroenterology
and requires major revision before it can be accepted.
General comments
- The grammar, spelling and editing throughout the manuscript should be improved since there
are several grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
- Abbreviations should be written out in full on first use
Background
- Background should be strengthened with more up to date references
- The time period/ year for which incidence and prevalence data have been described should be
stated. As much as possible, the authors should provide the most recent published estimates.
Methods
- Study design should be clearly stated in the methods
- What type of medical facility is MRC Fajara. Is it a referral centre? The study setting should
be described.
- What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria. How were patients selected for enrolment, i.e.
what was the sampling strategy.
- Explain how study size was arrived at
- Were medical records reviewed retrospectively or were cases prospectively enrolled? How
was data collected?
- How long were patients followed up for? How was the follow-up done?
- Was information about current/ previous treatment collected? Including hbsag, hcv or hcc
specific therapy?
- How was loss to follow up dealt with?
Results
- Label the survival probability axis on the KM Graph
- Why did the authors choose to combine BCLC ABC in the KS graph? Could they be separated?
- Tables shown appear disjointed, the authors could reformat the table to improve its appearance
and readability.
Discussion
- Start discussion by summarising key findings
- Discuss limitations, potential sources of bias and generalisability of the study.
Title: CLINICAL MANIFESTATION, STAGING AND PROGNOSIS OF
HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN GAMBIAN PATIENTS
Version: 2 Date: 12 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
The study seeks to assesses the clinical features, stage, and prognostic variables of patients with
HCC in The Gambia. There is a need for observational studies from West Africa on HCC,
however this manuscript in its current state falls below the standard of BMC Gastroenterology
and requires major revision before it can be accepted.
General comments
- The grammar, spelling and editing throughout the manuscript should be improved since there
are several grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
- Abbreviations should be written out in full on first use
Background
- Background should be strengthened with more up to date references
- The time period/ year for which incidence and prevalence data have been described should be
stated. As much as possible, the authors should provide the most recent published estimates.
Methods
- Study design should be clearly stated in the methods
- What type of medical facility is MRC Fajara. Is it a referral centre? The study setting should
be described.
- What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria. How were patients selected for enrolment, i.e.
what was the sampling strategy.
- Explain how study size was arrived at
- Were medical records reviewed retrospectively or were cases prospectively enrolled? How
was data collected?
- How long were patients followed up for? How was the follow-up done?
- Was information about current/ previous treatment collected? Including hbsag, hcv or hcc
specific therapy?
- How was loss to follow up dealt with?
Results
- Label the survival probability axis on the KM Graph
- Why did the authors choose to combine BCLC ABC in the KS graph? Could they be separated?
- Tables shown appear disjointed, the authors could reformat the table to improve its appearance
and readability.
Discussion
- Start discussion by summarising key findings
- Discuss limitations, potential sources of bias and generalisability of the study.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: CLINICAL MANIFESTATION, STAGING AND PROGNOSIS OF
HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN GAMBIAN PATIENTS
Version: 2 Date: 12 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
The study seeks to assesses the clinical features, stage, and prognostic variables of patients with
HCC in The Gambia. There is a need for observational studies from West Africa on HCC,
however this manuscript in its current state falls below the standard of BMC Gastroenterology
and requires major revision before it can be accepted.
General comments
- The grammar, spelling and editing throughout the manuscript should be improved since there
are several grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
- Abbreviations should be written out in full on first use
Background
- Background should be strengthened with more up to date references
- The time period/ year for which incidence and prevalence data have been described should be
stated. As much as possible, the authors should provide the most recent published estimates.
Methods
- Study design should be clearly stated in the methods
- What type of medical facility is MRC Fajara. Is it a referral centre? The study setting should
be described.
- What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria. How were patients selected for enrolment, i.e.
what was the sampling strategy.
- Explain how study size was arrived at
- Were medical records reviewed retrospectively or were cases prospectively enrolled? How
was data collected?
- How long were patients followed up for? How was the follow-up done?
- Was information about current/ previous treatment collected? Including hbsag, hcv or hcc
specific therapy?
- How was loss to follow up dealt with?
Results
- Label the survival probability axis on the KM Graph
- Why did the authors choose to combine BCLC ABC in the KS graph? Could they be separated?
- Tables shown appear disjointed, the authors could reformat the table to improve its appearance
and readability.
Discussion
- Start discussion by summarising key findings
- Discuss limitations, potential sources of bias and generalisability of the study.
assistant