Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Experts

- internistic

  • Profilbild von Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Seufferlein

    Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Seufferlein

    Ärztlicher Direktor der Klinik für Innere Medizin I (Speiseröhre, Magen, Darm, Leber und Niere sowie Stoffwechselerkrankungen) und Sprecher des Darmzentrums

  • Profilbild von Dr. med. Thomas J. Ettrich

    Dr. med. Thomas J. Ettrich

    Oberarzt, Leiter Schwerpunkt GI-Onkologie, Leiter des klinischen Studienzentrums GI-Onkologie

    Schwerpunkte

    Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Klinische Studien

  • Profilbild von Dr. med. Angelika Kestler

    Dr. med. Angelika Kestler

    Funktionsoberärztin, Fachärztin für Innere Medizin und Gastroenterologie, Palliativmedizin, Ärztliche Referentin für GI-Onkologie am CCCU

    Schwerpunkte

    Gastrointestinale Onkologie, Privatambulanz Prof. Seufferlein

- Surgical

  • Profilbild von Prof. Dr. med. Nuh Rahbari, MHBA

    Prof. Dr. med. Nuh Rahbari, MHBA

    Ärztlicher Direktor

  • Profilbild von Prof. Dr. med. Marko Kornmann

    Prof. Dr. med. Marko Kornmann

    Stellv. Ärztlicher Direktor/ Koordinator Viszeral-Onkologisches Zentrum

    Schwerpunkte

    Bereichsleitung Bauchspeicheldrüsen-, Magen- und Speiseröhrenchirurgie

  • Profilbild von Prof. Dr. med. Emrullah Birgin

    Prof. Dr. med. Emrullah Birgin

    Schwerpunkte

    Bereichsleitung Leber- und Gallenwegechirurgie
    Ärztliche Leitung Studienzentrum
     

Description of the disease

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the term used to describe cancer arising from liver cells (so-called hepatocytes).

Frequency and age of onset

Primary liver cancer is a rare disease in Europe; secondary liver tumours, such as liver metastases from other cancers, are much more common in the liver. In Germany, an average of 5 people per 100,000 inhabitants are diagnosed each year, with men being affected three times as often as women. The peak age is between 60 and 70 years.

Causes and risk factors

The main cause of liver cancer is liver cirrhosis, i.e. the final stage of chronic liver disease. Patients with liver cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis B infection or hepatitis C infection and patients with liver cirrhosis due to chronic harmful use of alcohol or other liver diseases have the highest risk of developing liver cancer.

Signs of illness

There are no characteristic signs of liver cancer. They may include pressure pain in the right upper abdomen, weight loss, abdominal fluid formation, a worsening of pre-existing liver cirrhosis and fever.