Saudi Association for the Study of Liver diseases and Transplantation practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma

摘要

Hepatocellularcarcinoma(HCC) is the most frequent primary livercancerand formsa major global health problem. In fact, HCC currently ranksas thefourthmostcommon cause ofcancer-related mortalityworldwide, with an anticipated increasein incidencein thefuture.[1] Given the high prevalence ofliver diseasein theKingdomofSaudiArabia(KSA), it is unsurprising that HCC representsa huge medical burden in this part ofthe world. Together with theincreasing recognition ofitsclinicalrelevance, major progress has beenmadein the prevention, detection, diagnosis,and treatment of patients withHCC. More pertinently, the management ofHCC hasevolved dramatically sincethe publication ofthe previous Saudi guidelines in 2012.[2] To providean update ofthese guidelines,athorough reviewoftheavailable HCC literature was performed, with aspecificinterest in thesituation inKSA. We hopethat these guidelines will help further improvethecare ofHCCpatients inKSA.