Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical gastroenterology Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1001 - 1010
• Main Authors: Díaz-González, Álvaro, M.D, Forner, Alejandro, M.D, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Bias; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis; Cirrhosis; Cost analysis; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hepatitis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Infections; Life expectancy; Liver cancer; Liver disease; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis; Medical diagnosis; Mortality; Overall survival; Population Surveillance; Quality; Screening; Studies; Surveillance; Transplants & implants; Ultrasonic imaging; Liver cancer; Screening; Cirrhosis; Surveillance; Liver disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Overall survival
• ISSN: 1521-6918; 1532-1916
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2016.10.006

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) appears mainly in patients with underlying liver disease and it is recognized as one of the most important causes of death in this population. Early detection by surveillance has been suggested as an effective tool for reducing cancer-specific mortality and the most accepted strategy is semiannual abdominal ultrasound in those patients at risk of HCC development. The benefit of HCC surveillance is proven by a randomized-controlled study, several prospective or retrospective analyses, and multiple modeling studies and according to the current scientific evidence, surveillance of HCC should be recommended and widely implemented. Major efforts should be done for improving the diagnostic accuracy of the screening tools and for better identifying those patients at risk of HCC development in whom a surveillance program would be cost-effective.