ABSTRACT
H epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most common malignancies worldwide. At present, approximately 550,000 new patients are diagnosed with HCC each year worldwide. However, regional differences in the incidence of HCC are significant. The highest prevalence is found in Southeast Asia and the sub-saharan Africa, mostly due to the high rates of chronic viral hepatitis, a high risk factor for HCC. Additional causes leading to HCC are alcohol, toxins such as aflatoxin, hemochromatosis, a l -antitrypsin deficiency and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).15
