Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

Revision as of 14:49, 10 September 2015 by Mohamad Alkateb (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Hepatocellular carcinoma Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes of Hepatocellular carcinoma

Differentiating Hepatocellular carcinoma from other Diseases

Epidemiology & Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications & Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic study of choice

History and symptoms

Physical Examination

Lab Tests

Electrocardiogram

Chest X Ray

CT

MRI

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Hepatocellular carcinoma overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

CDC on Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

Hepatocellular carcinoma overview in the news

Blogs on Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hepatocellular carcinoma

Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatocellular carcinoma overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamad Alkateb, MBBCh [2]

Overview

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called hepatoma) is a primary malignancy (cancer) of the liver. The majority of hepaticellular carcinoma cases are due to either a viral hepatitide infection (hepatitis B or C) or cirrhosis (alcoholism being the most common cause of hepatic cirrhosis).[1] In countries where hepatitis is not endemic, most malignant cancers in the liver are not primary hepatocellular carcinoma and the majority of cases aremetastasis from other part of the body, e.g. the colon. Treatment options of hepatocellular carcinoma and prognosis are dependent on many factors, especially on tumor size and staging.

In non western countries, the usual outcome is poor, because only 10 - 20% of hepatocellular carcinomas can be removed completely using surgery. If the cancer cannot be completely removed, the disease is usually deadly within 3 to 6 months [3]. This is partially due to late presentation with large tumours, but also due to the lack of medical expertise and facilities. This is a rare tumor in the United States.

Historical Perspective

Hepatocellular carcinoma was first noted to be associated with hepatitis B infection in 1970.[2]

Pathophysiology

On microscopic histopathological analysis, large polygonal tumours cells with graunular eosinophilic cytoplasm or layered dense collagen bundles are characteristic findings of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Causes

Common causes of hepatocellular carcinoma include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, and hepatic prophyrias.

Differentiating Hepatocellular Carcinoma from other Diseases

Hepatocellular carcinoma must be differentiated from other diseases that cause abdominal pain, jaundice, and weight loss, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, and pancreatitis.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the 5th most common tumor worldwide. The epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma exhibits two main patterns, one in North America and Western Europe and another in non-Western countries, such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin. Men are more affected than women and it is more common between the 3rd and 5th decades of life. Hepatocellular carcinoma causes 662,000 deaths worldwide per year.[3]

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of hepatocellular carcinomaare are chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and inherited metabolic diseases.

References

  1. Kumar V, Fausto N, Abbas A (editors) (2003). Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (7th ed.). Saunders. pp. pp. 914&ndash, 7. ISBN 978-0-721-60187-8.
  2. Di Bisceglie AM (2009). "Hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma". Hepatology. 49 (5 Suppl): S56–60. doi:10.1002/hep.22962. PMC 3047495. PMID 19399807.
  3. "Cancer". World Health Organization. February 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-24.


Template:WikiDoc Sources