Primary liver cancer, most of which is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the third common leading cancer in Korea. During the last two decades, the incidence rate of primary liver cancer has shown a modest decrease, but its mortality rate has slightly increased. The incidence of HCC, according to age, peaks in the late sixth decade in men and in the early seventh decade in women. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most important risk factor, which represents approximately 70% of all HCC, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol are the next in order of major risk factors for the development of HCC in Korea. HBV-associated HCC occurs 10 years earlier than HCV-associated HCC due to a more prolonged exposure to HBV, which is vertically transmitted almost from HBsAg-positive mother in HBV-endemic area. National Cancer Control Institute, which was reorganized in 2005, is now working for several national projects such as National Cancer Registration Program, National R&D Program for Cancer Control and National Cancer Screening Program. International collaboration for the clinico-epidemiologic research would be needed to provide the specific measures for managing HCC in diverse etiologic situations. Finally, the mechanisms of hepatitis virus-associated hepatocellular carcinogenesis might be clarified to provide insights into the advanced therapeutic and preventive approaches for HCC in Korea, where the majority of HCC originate from chronic HBV and HCV infections.
*Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; *Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapy

Primary liver cancer, most of which is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the third common leading cancer in Korea. During the last two decades, the incidence rate of primary liver cancer has shown a modest decrease, but its mortality rate has slightly increased. The incidence of HCC, according to age, peaks in the late sixth decade in men and in the early seventh decade in women. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most important risk factor, which represents approximately 70% of all HCC, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol are the next in order of major risk factors for the development of HCC in Korea. HBV-associated HCC occurs 10 years earlier than HCV-associated HCC due to a more prolonged exposure to HBV, which is vertically transmitted almost from HBsAg-positive mother in HBV-endemic area. National Cancer Control Institute, which was reorganized in 2005, is now working for several national projects such as National Cancer Registration Program, National R&D Program for Cancer Control and National Cancer Screening Program. International collaboration for the clinico-epidemiologic research would be needed to provide the specific measures for managing HCC in diverse etiologic situations. Finally, the mechanisms of hepatitis virus-associated hepatocellular carcinogenesis might be clarified to provide insights into the advanced therapeutic and preventive approaches for HCC in Korea, where the majority of HCC originate from chronic HBV and HCV infections.
*Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; *Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapy

OBJECTIVETo identify proteomic patterns in hepatic tissues for diagnosing early HBV related HCC.

METHODSProteomic spectra were generated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), A preliminary "raining" set of spectra derived from analysis of 14 cancer tissues and 14 non-cancer tissues, a proteomic patterns that completely discriminated cancer from non-cancer was identified. The discovered pattern was then used to classify an independent set of 48 masked samples: 24 from cancer tissues, and 24 from non-cancer tissues.

RESULTSThe discriminatory pattern correctly identified all cancer tissues and non-cancer tissues in the masked set. This result yielded a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONFurther analysis on these proteins in the proteomic pattern will be helpful to screen tumor markers for HBV related HCC. These findings justify a prospective assessment of proteomic pattern technology as a screening tool for cancer in high-risk and general populations.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; chemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proteomics

A 37 year-old-woman was admitted to the hospital because of 15 days' duration of continuous fever. Routine studies for detection of fever foci were negative. Imaging studies revealed giant hemangioma of the liver with central thrombosis. The fever persisted for a period of 4 weeks, and subsided after conservative management. We report a case of hepatic hemangioma presenting with fever of unknown origin. The condition is very rare, but should be regarded as one of the causes of fever of unknown origin.
Adult ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin/*etiology ; Hemangioma/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis

The study of the epidemiology of toxic liver injury has been limited in Korea. The number of hospitalizations for toxic liver injury has been estimated to be 2,400 persons per year. About 30~40% of fulminant hepatitis was attributed to toxic hepatitis. The frequent causative agents of toxic hepatitis in Korea are herbal medicines (34~40%), folk remedies (23~34%), and prescribed medicines (24~55%). However, the most common agents causing severe liver injury including fulminant hepatitis are herbal medicine and folk remedies. Antituberculosis drugs and acetaminophen are two common causes of fulminant hepatitis among prescribed drugs. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in Korea. No nationwide study on the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has been carried out, but 7~31% of cirrhosis has been reported to be alcoholic in a few single-center studies. Alcohol could be a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic viral hepatitis. Several studies have shown that alcohol increased the risk of HCC in liver cirrhosis with HBsAg or anti-HCV. Furthermore, alcoholic cirrhosis with occult hepatitis B virus infection increased the risk of HCC.
Drug-Induced Liver Injury/diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/epidemiology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/complications/*epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology ; Risk Factors

A 55 yr-old man presented with progressive muscle weakness and oliguria for 5days. Laboratory findings suggested rhabdomyolysis complicated with acute renal failure. A diagnosis of polymyositis was based upon the proximal muscle weakness on both upper and lower limbs, elevated muscle enzyme levels, muscle biopsy findings and the needle electromyography findings. The muscle biopsy showed extensive muscle necrosis and calcification. Investigations for underlying malignancy demonstrated hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was managed with hemodialysis and high dose prednisolone. His renal function was fully recovered and his muscle power did improve slightly, but he died of a rupture of the hepatic tumor. In our view, this is an interesting case in that the hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with polymyositis and fulminant rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Acute/*diagnosis/etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymyositis/complications/*diagnosis ; Rhabdomyolysis/*diagnosis/etiology

No abstract available.
Adenoma, Liver Cell/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Glycogen Storage Disease/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Male ; Tumor Markers, Biological ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Aged ; Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis/*secondary ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/etiology/*secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; *Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/etiology ; Osteoporosis/complications ; Pelvic Bones/*injuries

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Colonic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Cyclosporine ; adverse effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; adverse effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Survival Analysis ; Tacrolimus ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Gastroenterology ; trends ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Liver Failure, Acute ; etiology ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies