Hepatocellular carcinoma is a disease caused by malignant changes in liver tissue cells.
The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has two liver lobes and is located in the right quadrant of the rib cage and in the upper abdomen. The three important functions of the liver are:
Anatomy of the liver. The liver is located in the upper abdomen near the stomach, intestine, gallbladder, and pancreas. The liver is divided into a right lobe and a left lobe. Each liver lobe is divided into two parts (not shown).
For more information about liver cancer, see the following PDQ summary:
Hepatocellular carcinoma is uncommon in the United States, but common in other parts of the world.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the ninth most common cancer in women, and it ranks second on the global cancer death spectrum. It is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and in East Asia, such as China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In the United States, men, especially Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men, are at higher risk of developing liver cancer. New cases of liver cancer continue to increase, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
In China, liver cancer ranks third in the spectrum of cancer incidence and second in the spectrum of death among men; among women it ranks seventh in the spectrum of incidence and third in the spectrum of death. Incidence and death are higher in men than in women, and higher in rural than in urban areas.
Early detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma can prevent death from hepatocellular carcinoma.
Infection with certain types of hepatitis viruses can lead to hepatitis and possibly to liver cancer.
The most common cause of hepatitis is hepatitis virus infection. Hepatitis can cause inflammation (swelling) of the liver. Long-term chronic damage to the liver from hepatitis can increase the risk of liver cancer.
Hepatitis B (HBV) virus and hepatitis C (HCV) virus are the two types of hepatitis viruses. Chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection can increase the risk of liver cancer.
Hepatitis B
The hepatitis B virus is contracted by exposure to the blood, semen, or other body fluids of a person infected with the hepatitis B virus. This infection can be passed from mother to child through childbirth and can also be transmitted through sexual contact or sharing needles for injecting drugs. It can cause cirrhosis of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is caused by exposure to the blood of someone infected with the hepatitis C virus. The infection can be spread by sharing needles for injecting drugs or through sexual contact. In the past, it could also be spread through blood transfusions or organ transplants. Today, blood banks test all donated blood for hepatitis C virus, which greatly reduces the risk of contracting the virus through blood transfusions. It can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver cancer.