Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and is estimated to cause approximately half a million deaths annually. Because of its high fatality rates, the incidence and mortality rates are almost equal. The major risk factors for HCC are chronic hepatitis B virus infection, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and alcoholic cirrhosis. The epidemiology of HCC is characterized by marked demographic (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and geographic variations. Hepatitis B virus infection, with and without aflatoxin exposure, is responsible for most cases in developing countries; better control of these risk factors has resulted in a recent decline in HCC in some places like…