| Theme | The New Guideline for Liver Cancer Treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Chronic Liver Diseases: Target for Surveillance for the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma | |
| Publish Date | 2018/06 | |
| Author | Takashi Nishimura | Ultrasound Imaging Center / Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| Author | Hiroko Iijima | Ultrasound Imaging Center / Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hyogo College of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the two common causes of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). On the other hand, the number of non-B and non-C HCCs has been recently increasing in Japan. The other causes of HCCs are: environmental factors, including alcohol intake and smoking, and host genetic factors. The precise evaluation of these risk factors is therefore essential in the screening and surveillance program for HCC. Presence of liver cirrhosis (LC) can be a high-risk factor for HCC development regardless of underlying liver disease, and in particular, the annual incidence of HCC in patients with HBV or HCV related LC has been reported to be 3% - 8%. The advances in anti-viral therapies for viral hepatitis are noteworthy; however, clinicians should be aware that HCC can develop even after the eradication of hepatitis viruses. | |