Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide. The Rate of incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in India for men is up to 7 and for women is up to 2 per 100,000 population per year. The male : female ratio for HCC in India is 4:1. The risk for HCC in developed countries is increasing, owing to its associations with hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholic liver disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Underlying cirrhosis of any cause also increases the risk for HCC.
This article describes the screening tools and guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma. Screening modules for HCC Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a marker of advanced HCC. As a screening tool, however, AFP does not have sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be effective in routine surveillance. The sensitivity of AFP is approximately 45% when a level > 20 ng/mL is used. Smaller…
