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About Liver Cancer
Liver Cancer Overview
Hepatocellular carcinoma (often abbreviated "HCC"), also known as hepatoma, is the fifth most common cancer in the world, and has been increasing in prevalence in the United States, primarily because of the increased number of people with cirrhosis of the liver due to hepatitis C infection. HCC is a cancer of the hepatocyte, which is one of the main functional cell types in the liver. More...
How Liver Cancer Develops
Liver cancer develops when the organized control of cell growth and death is disrupted. Either new cells form when the body does not need them or old cells do not die when they should. Cancer cells are damaged. Uncontrolled cancer cells can invade and damage surrounding tissue and form "masses" or "tumors". More...
HCC Symptoms
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of HCC and usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver. Additionally, unexplained weight loss or unexplained fevers are warning signs of HCC in patients with cirrhosis. More...
Screening for HCC
Screening patients at high risk for HCC allows for the most options for
treatment, including liver resection and liver transplantation. More...
Diagnostic Procedures and Imaging
HCC Risk Factors and High Risk Populations
It is well established that Hepatitis B infection can cause HCC. The vast majority of HCC that is associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) occurs in patients who have had hepatitis B infection for most of their lives, also called chronic Hepatitis B. More...
Hepatocellular Carinoma Pathology
Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) is the most common malignant tumor in the liver in the adult. It occurs approximately 85% of the time in patients who have cirrhosis, the more frequent causes of the associated cirrhosis including chronic hepatitis B and C; however, the tumor may also be seen in alcoholic cirrhosis and less common causes of cirrhosis such as idiopathic hemochromatosis. More...
Cancer Prevention
Worldwide, the majority of HCC is associated with chronic hepatitis B
virus infection. Today, however, all newborns are vaccinated against
hepatitis B in China and other Asian countries. More...
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