title: Position paper of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF): the multidisciplinary clinical approach to hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach framed in a network where all the diagnostic techniques and therapeutic resources are available in order to provide the optimal level of care. Given this assumption, the Coordinating Committee of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver nominated a panel of experts to elaborate practical recommendations for the multidisciplinary management of hepatocellular carcinoma aiming to provide: (1) homogeneous and efficacious diagnostic and staging work-up, and (2) the best treatment choice tailored to patient status and tumour stage at diagnosis. The 2010 updated American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma were selected as the reference document. For each management issue, the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease recommendations were briefly summarised and discussed, according to both the scientific evidence published after their release and the clinical expertise of the Italian centres taking care of these patients. The Italian Association for the Study of the Liver expert panel recommendations are finally reported.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolondi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cillo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxì
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farinati
authors.forename: Edoardo G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Golfieri
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levrero
authors.forename: Antonio Daniele
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piscaglia
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raimondo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trevisani
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caraceni
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciancio
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraquelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rendina
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toniutto
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cirrhosis; Hepatic resection; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver transplantation; Percutaneous ablation; Trans-arterial chemoembolisation