Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma... A hotly debated issue

The question of screening for hepatocellular carcinoma and particularly the surveillance of patients with cirrhosis remains hotly debated. Indeed, even if well defined groups at risk and accu- rate tools of early diagnosis exist, the impact of screening on the survival improvement has not yet been completely demonstrated. Moreover, the prevalence of hepatocarcinoma and the aetiologies of cirrhosis differ according to regions resulting in recommenda- tions that should be adapted to each country. The purpose of this review is to summarise the data of the literature and to provide adapted recommendation for our country. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2004, 67, 255-264).