The global epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma

作者：Muhammad Ali Butt, Elizabeth S. Aby, José D. Debes · 发表于：Hepatology Communications · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1097/hc9.0000000000000932 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis、Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment、Hepatitis B Virus Studies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, with marked geographic heterogeneity in incidence and outcomes. The highest age-standardized incidence and mortality rates persist in East Asia and across much of Africa. In contrast, Europe and North America exhibit moderate incidence, while Latin America and Oceania represent intermediate-burden regions with important subregional heterogeneity, with higher mortality concentrated in underserved, rural, Indigenous, and remote populations. Globally, the etiologic landscape of HCC is shifting from predominantly infection-related toward metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease. Rural-urban disparities further exacerbate global HCC burden through gaps in vaccination coverage, antiviral access, diagnostic infrastructure, and specialty care, leading to later-stage presentation and poorer outcomes. In this review, we describe the epidemiological changes in HCC across different areas of the world, focusing on region-specific issues and identifying key aspects of epidemiological transition.