There are about 8000 new cases of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) diagnosed in the United States each year. Worldwide, HCC accounts for more than 1 million deaths annually and is likely the third most common cause of cancer death.
1 The various risk factors for the development of HCC can be divided into the following categories: chronic viral hepatitis, chronic liver disease other than viral hepatitis, genetic disorders, and dietary and environmental risk factors. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common cause of HCC worldwide.
2 The risk appears to be related to chronic inflammation as…