Present trends in Japan with regard to epidemiology and clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology has undergone great changes in Japan. Life span, new diagnostic procedures and viral infections obtained through intravenous injections have contributed to these changes. The aetiological aspects and clinical features of HCC should be reappraised to account for the current use of techniques such as US and CT in the early diagnosis of HCC. In Japan most HCC seem to be HBV and/or HCV associated whereas small HCC seem to be HCV-associated more so than large HCC. The usual clinical symptoms and signs are somewhat useless and of limited value while the newer techniques permit an early clinical diagnosis of small HCC. This diagnostic advancement has also permitted a remarkable progression in HCC therapy.
Ohto
M
M
Internal Medicine, Chiba University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Ebara
M
M
Sugiura
N
N
Yoshikawa
M
M
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male