title: Surveillance programmes for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most commonly diagnosed primary malignancy of the liver. The number of new diagnosed cases of HCC seems to be on a rise worldwide. HCC is typically diagnosed in patients with underlying liver cirrhosis (> 90% cases) regardless of aetiology; over a five-year follow-up period HCC develops in 15-20% of patients with cirrhosis. Patients who are at a high risk of HCC development (i.e. individuals with liver cirrhosis, especially/or chronically infected with HBV or HCV) should undergo regular screening for HCC; the current screening standard comprises liver ultrasonography and determination of α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration in blood serum at ca. 6 months' intervals (now has been excluded from current diagnostic standards). Only such diagnostic methods are capable of detecting HCC early, and thus make it possible to treat the cancer effectively.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Wrocław Medical University, Poland ; Department of Infectious Diseases, J. Gromkowski Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serafińska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pazgan-Simon
keywords: HBV and HCV infection; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver cirrhosis; screening tests; α-fetoprotein