title: Diagnostics and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in 2016: Standards and Developments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent complication of liver cirrhosis. Worldwide, HCC is one of the most common cancers, with a rising incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A selective literature search was conducted, taking into account current studies, reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnosis is established either non-invasively by dynamic imaging, showing a typical contrast enhancement and wash-out, or histopathologically. Pathological diagnosis of HCC is recommended for all atypical nodules in patients with cirrhosis and for those in non-cirrhotic patients. Tumor therapy as well as treatment of the underlying chronic liver disease and/or preservation of liver function are important for the management of patients with HCC. Standard stage-adapted treatments are based on the widely applied Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system including liver resection and transplantation, interventional treatments such as thermal ablation and transarterial therapies, and systemic treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib. After failure of sorafenib, anti-angiogenic drugs, MET inhibitors, and immunotherapeutics are currently under advanced clinical investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of HCC is multidisciplinary and therefore requires a close cooperation between various disciplines such as hepatology, visceral surgery, radiology, and oncology to achieve the best outcome depending on the tumor stage and degree of liver function impairment.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Universitäres Leberzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trojan
authors.affiliation: Universitäres Leberzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institut für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zangos
authors.affiliation: Universitäres Leberzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Schnitzbauer
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Interventional treatment; Liver cirrhosis; Resection; Systemic therapy; Transplantation