Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. It usually occurs in men and in areas with chronic hepatitis virus infection, such as sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia.
Cirrhosis is the most common associated factor. Hepatitis B and C virus infections are also directly associated with this cancer.
Patients often have no symptoms and the disease is diagnosed during routine medical check-ups. When symptoms do occur, they manifest as a deterioration in general condition, weight loss and abdominal pain. Sometimes the liver may be inflamed in the form of a palpable mass in the right subcostal region,
It is diagnosed by clinical interview and physical examination. This is supplemented by the detection of alpha-fetoprotein in a blood test and by an imaging test, usually a CT scan and/or an MRI.
Treatment depends on the size and extent of the tumor. In cases where treatment is curative in intent, tumor surgery or even liver transplantation will be performed. Palliative treatment may include radiofrequency ablation, internal tumor radiation, or chemoembolization.
- Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Update of the consensus document of the AEEH, AEC, SEOM, SERAM, SERVEI, and SETH. Reig M, Forner A, Ávila MA, Ayuso C, Mínguez B, Varela M, Bilbao I, Bilbao JI, Burrel M, Bustamante J, Ferrer J, Gómez MÁ, Llovet JM, De la Mata M, Matilla A, Pardo F, Pastrana MA, Rodríguez-Perálvarez M, Tabernero J, Urbano J, Vera R, Sangro B, Bruix J. Med Clin (Barc). 2021 May 7;156(9):463.e1-463.e30. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.09.022. PMID: 33461840.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: Present and future. Armengol C, Sarrias MR, Sala M. Med Clin (Barc). 2018 May 23;150(10):390-397. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2017.08.010. Epub 2017 Oct 31. PMID: 29096967.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: epidemiology, biology, diagnosis, and therapies. Gomes MA, Priolli DG, Tralhão JG, Botelho MF. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2013 Sep-Oct;59(5):514-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ramb.2013.03.005. Epub 2013 Sep 14. PMID: 24041910.
- Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Forner A, Ayuso C, Isabel Real M, Sastre J, Robles R, Sangro B, Varela M, de la Mata M, Buti M, Martí-Bonmatí L, Bru C, Tabernero J, Llovet JM, Bruix J. Med Clin (Barc). 2009 Feb 28;132(7):272-87. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2008.11.024. Epub 2009 Feb 14. PMID: 19248879.
