Hepatocellular Carcinoma Disease Summary

Overview

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignancy that originates from the liver.

It is usually asymptomatic for much of its natural history, however, symptoms such as jaundice, anorexia, weight loss, malaise and upper abdominal pain are seen in more advanced cases.

Physical signs are hepatomegaly and ascites. 

Liver cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 75-90% of liver cancers.