AIM:To examine the survival patterns and determinants ofprimary liver cancer in a geographically defined Chinesepopulation.METHODS:Primary liver cancer cases (n=13 685)diagnosed between 1981 and 2000 were identified by theTianjin Cancer Registry.Age-adjusted and age-specificincidence rates were examined in both males and females.Proportional hazards (Cox) regression was utilized to explorethe effects of time of diagnosis,sex,age,occupation,residence,and hospital of diagnosis on survival.RESULTS:Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates in thestudy period were:27.4/100 000 and 26.3/100 000 in males;and 11.5/100 000 and 10.4/100 000 in females,respectively.Cox regression analyses indicated that there was a significantimprovement in survival rates over time.Industrial workersand older people had relatively poor survival rates.Thehospital in which the liver cancer was diagnosed was astatistically significant predictor of survival;patientsdiagnosed in city hospitals were more likely to have bettersurvival than those diagnosed in community/district hospitals.CONCLUSION:Patients diagnosed in recent years appearedto have a better outcome than those diagnosed in earlytimes.There were also significant survival disparities withrespect to occupation and hospital of diagnosis,whichsuggest that socioeconomic status may play an importantrole in determining prognosis. AIM: To examine the survival patterns and determinants of primary liver cancer in a geographically defined Chinese population. METHODS: Primary liver cancer cases (n = 13 685) diagnosed between 1981 and 2000 were identified by the Tianjin Cancer Registry. Age-adjusted and age-specificincidence rates were examined in both males and females. Portortional hazards (Cox) regression was utilized to explore the effects of time of diagnosis, sex, age, occupation, residence, and hospital of diagnosis on survival .RESULTS: Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates in the study period were: 27.4 / 100 000 and 26.3 / 100 000 in males; and 11.5 / 100 000 and 10.4 / 100 000 in females, respectively.Cox regression analyzes indicated that there was a significant improvement in survival rates over time. Industrial workers and older people had relatively poor survival rates.Thehospital in which the liver cancer was diagnosed was astatistically significant predictor of survival; patientsdiagnosed in city hospitals were more likely to have be ttersurvival than those diagnosed in community / district hospitals.CONCLUSION: Patients with diagnosed in early years. Where are also significant survival disparities withrespect to occupation and hospital of diagnosis, whichsuggest that socioeconomic status may play an importantrole in determining prognosis.