Albumin-Bilirubin Grade (ALBI Score)

Survival in HCC depends on both the tumor stage and the underlying liver function. Accurate assessment of liver reserve is critical for selecting between surgery, ablation, or systemic therapy.

The Child-Pugh score relies on the assessment of ascites and encephalopathy, which are subjective and can be influenced by treatment (e.g., diuretics). ALBI provides a purely laboratory-based alternative.

ALBI has been shown to be superior to Child-Pugh in predicting survival across all stages of HCC, particularly in patients classified as Child-Pugh A.