EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. It is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer mortality. Despite advances in prevention techniques and new technologies in both diagnosis and treatment incidence and mortality continue to rise. It is less common in most parts of the developed Western world but appears to be increasing substantially in incidence. This malignancy occurs more often among men and older person. Rates of HCC are particularly high in Eastern / Southeastern Asia and in Africa, intermediate in Southern Europe and low in most high-income countries. The most prominent risk factors for this cancer are hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are some other factors participating in the high incidence of HCC such as cirrhosis, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, obesity, aflatoxin exposure, familial/genetic factors and metabolic disorders. The present review is aimed an overview of worldwide incidence, determinants or risk factors and distribution of HCC.