Mortality rates from most cancers have declined in recent years, but deaths from hepatocellular carcinoma continue to climb. Both the VA and the DoD are moving aggressively to detect and treat liver disease before it progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to quickly identify patients who have developed this devastating disease.
New Guidelines Expand Screening for Liver Cancer in NAFLD
The American Gastroenterological Association recently updated its clinical practice guidelines to recommend screening for all patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.
AGA’s New Advice on Screening for NAFLD and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The association between NAFLD cirrhosis and HCC is well-established, and most experts believe that screening should be recommended in this setting. The decision to enter a patient into a screening program for HCC is determined by the level of risk for HCC, while also taking into account the patient’s age, overall health, functional status, and willingness and ability to comply with screening assessment.
HCV ‘Cure’ Doesn’t Eliminate Liver Cancer But Might Reduce Mortality
DALLAS – Use of direct-acting antiviral therapy to essentially cure hepatitis C virus does not completely eliminate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, but recent studies suggest it can significantly reduce mortality rates. The 15% to 20% of HCV patients...
Many Veterans With Cirrhosis Still Abuse Alcohol, Despite Dangers
Study Looks at What Percentage Actually Get Help at VA PITTSBURGH—Among veterans presenting for first-time care within the VA healthcare system, about 11% meet the criteria for a diagnosis of substance use disorder. Most prevalent among both male and female veterans,...
A Quick Call In VA System Almost Triples HCC Surveillance Rates
LOS ANGELES—Sometimes the simplest interventions work best. That’s what the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System discovered in its attempts to increase the number of veterans with cirrhosis who received regular surveillance for hepatocellular cancer (HCC)....