Epidemiology and carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Leong, Trishe Y.-M.
Leong, Anthony S.-Y.

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Publication date

March 2005

DOI

10.1080/13651820410024021

Publisher

International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract

AbstractThe incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows marked variation worldwide but the magnitude of this tumor is reflected by the occurrence of at least 1 million new cases annually and the uniformly dismal outlook with median survivals of <25 months after resection and <6 months with symptomatic treatment. The strikingly uneven distribution of this tumor parallels the prevalence of hepatitis B infection with rising incidence in western countries attributed to hepatitis C infection. Chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis constitute the major preneoplastic conditions in the majority of HCCs and may be related to other etiologic agents such as environmental chemical carcinogens including nitrites, hydrocarbons, solvents, organochlorine pe...