BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the world's most common malignancies. The aims of the present paper are to review data on (1) epidemiology and screening programmes for the early detection of the tumour and (2) advances in the diagnostic imaging and management. METHODS: Relevant English language articles, published between January 1985 and December 1997, were reviewed. Articles were identified through Medline search, using the key words 'hepatocellular carcinoma'. Articles cited in the bibliographies of these articles were searched manually. RESULTS: Hepatocellular carcinoma has a heterogeneous geographical distribution. Although its risk factors have been identified, the efficacy of screening programmes remains uncertain. Imaging has improved substantially with the recent application of dual-phase helical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging employing specific contrast agents. The comparative efficacy of conservative therapy and surgical resection is uncertain, since well controlled trials are lacking. CONCLUSION: Hepatocellular carcinoma is commonly a problem of two diseases, the malignancy itself and cirrhosis. This renders treatment rarely curative, even when surgical resection can be applied in a technically successful sense. Liver transplantation could be a definitive treatment but this is plagued by limited donor resources.
BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the world's most common malignancies. The aims of the present paper are to review data on (1) epidemiology and screening programmes for the early detection of the tumour and (2) advances in the diagnostic imaging and management. METHODS: Relevant English language articles, published between January 1985 and December 1997, were reviewed. Articles were identified through Medline search, using the key words 'hepatocellular carcinoma'. Articles cited in the bibliographies of these articles were searched manually. RESULTS:Hepatocellular carcinoma has a heterogeneous geographical distribution. Although its risk factors have been identified, the efficacy of screening programmes remains uncertain. Imaging has improved substantially with the recent application of dual-phase helical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging employing specific contrast agents. The comparative efficacy of conservative therapy and surgical resection is uncertain, since well controlled trials are lacking. CONCLUSION:Hepatocellular carcinoma is commonly a problem of two diseases, the malignancy itself and cirrhosis. This renders treatment rarely curative, even when surgical resection can be applied in a technically successful sense. Liver transplantation could be a definitive treatment but this is plagued by limited donor resources.
Authors: Margaret A Park; Guo Zhang; Clint Mitchell; Mohamed Rahmani; Hossein Hamed; Michael P Hagan; Adly Yacoub; David T Curiel; Paul B Fisher; Steven Grant; Paul Dent Journal: Mol Cancer Ther Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 6.261
Authors: Guo Zhang; Margaret A Park; Clint Mitchell; Hossein Hamed; Mohamed Rahmani; Aditi Pandya Martin; David T Curiel; Adly Yacoub; Martin Graf; Ray Lee; John D Roberts; Paul B Fisher; Steven Grant; Paul Dent Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2008-09-01 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Charles H Cha; Leyo Ruo; Yuman Fong; William R Jarnagin; Jinru Shia; Leslie H Blumgart; Ronald P DeMatteo Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 12.969