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Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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Pathology and Epidemiology of Cancer

Abstract

There is considerable variability in incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Much is known about its causes, which include infections with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses, alcohol, and obesity. Vaccination for HBV has significantly reduced the incidence of HCC in developed countries, but it remains the major etiologic factor in underdeveloped geographic areas. HCV infection, for which no effective vaccine has been discovered so far, has become the main etiological factor for HCC in Western countries and Japan, often in association with alcohol abuse. The increased median survival of patients with liver cirrhosis due to improved medical care represents another indirect cause of higher incidence of HCC in developed countries.

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Correspondence to Michelangelo Fiorentino .

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Giunchi, F., Vasuri, F., Fiorentino, M. (2017). Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In: Loda, M., Mucci, L., Mittelstadt, M., Van Hemelrijck, M., Cotter, M. (eds) Pathology and Epidemiology of Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-35153-7_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-35153-7_23

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