Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma： Anupdate

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is one of the mostcommon malignancies leading to high mortality ratesin the general population; in cirrhotic patients, it isthe primary cause of death. The diagnosis is usuallydelayed in spite of at-risk population screening recommendations,i.e., patients infected with hepatitis B or Cvirus. Hepatocarcinogenesis hinges on a great numberof genetic and molecular abnormalities that lead totumor angiogenesis and foster their disseminationpotential. The diagnosis is mainly based on imagingstudies such as computed tomography and magneticresonance, in which lesions present a characteristicclassical pattern of early arterial enhancement followedby contrast medium ＂washout＂ in late venous phase.On occasion, when imaging studies are not conclusive,biopsy of the lesion must be performed to establish thediagnosis. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stagingmethod is the most frequently used worldwide andrecommended by the international guidelines of HCCmanagement. Currently available treatments includetumor resection, liver transplant, sorafenib and locoregionaltherapies （alcoholization, radiofrequencyablation, chemoembolization）. The prognosis of hepatocarcinomais determined according to the lesion＇s stageand in cirrhotic patients, on residual liver function.Curative treatments, such as liver transplant, aresought in patients diagnosed in early stages; patients inmore advanced stages, were not greatly benefitted bychemotherapy in terms of survival until the advent oftarget molecules such as sorafenib.