Das Hepatozelluläre Karzinom - Screening, Diagnostik und Therapie

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer, it is a terminal complication of chronic inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease, and its incidence is increasing worldwide because of the dissemination of hepatitis B and C virus infection. Patients with cirrhosis are at the highest risk and should be monitored every 6 months. Major factors contributing to the increased incidence of HCC include an increase in the incidence of type C chronic hepatitis and an increase in the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver, which in turn are the result of blood transfusions received about 30 years ago. Surveillance can lead to diagnosis at early stages, when the tumour might be curable by resection, liver transplantation, or percutaneous treatment. Most HCC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages and receive palliative treatment. Only chemoembolisation improves survival in well-selected patients with unresectable HCC. This article focuses on the screening, diagnosis, and management of HCC and new clinical and scientific developments.