title: Cost-effectiveness of liver cancer screening.
abstract: Screening for primary liver cancer means surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Detection of HCC for curative treatment is increased by surveillance, but target population, optimal periodicity and cost-effectiveness aspects are still debated issues. The aim of surveillance is to obtain a reduction in HCC-related mortality and this is usually achieved through an early diagnosis that increases both applicability and cost-effectiveness of curative treatments. The aim of the present review is to analyse economic aspects of HCC surveillance. Articles that assessed cost-effectiveness of surveillance for HCC, published between 1996 and February 2013, were reviewed in order to verify the cost-effectiveness of surveillance, its optimal periodicity, the target population and the role of alternative surveillance strategies. International guidelines are currently based on the results of such cost-effectiveness analyses, highlighting the importance of the release of cost-effectiveness-guided guidelines for HCC management.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery and Transplant Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti n° 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: aleqko@libero.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cucchetti
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cescon
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erroi
authors.forename: Antonio D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pinna
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Cirrhosis; Cost-benefit; Cost-effectiveness; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Prevention & control; Screening; Surveillance