Recent modalities in the Surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world (626,000 diagnoses per year) and is the third most common cause of cancer- related deaths (598,000 deaths per year) (Parkin et al., 2005). The incidence ranges from <10 cases per 100 000 persons in North America and Western Europe to 50-150 cases per 100 000 persons in parts of Africa and Asia, where HCC is responsible for a large number of cancer deaths (El-Serag et al., 2003¬). The etiology of HCC is multifactorial. The most important factors are cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C or hepatitis B infections, and alcohol. Hepatocellular carcinoma usually presents with nonspecific symptoms, either due to the underlying cirrhosis or HCC itself (Al-Sowmely and Hodgson, 2002).