Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading cancer-related causes of death worldwide. The majority of tumors grows on the basis of liver cirrhosis, thus complicating diagnosis and therapy. when planning treatment, one has to take into account liver function besides tumor size and spreading as well as performance status. For the judgement of prognosis and planning of the appropriate therapy the BCLC system (Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer) has proven its value as a staging system. Only about one third of patients can be treated in a curative intention by resection, transplantation or local tumor ablation. In locally advanced cases transarterial techniques like transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radioembolization (SIRT) are the preferred approach. With HCC being relatively insensitive to chemotherapy, this mode of treatment does not play a major role. The introduction of sorafenib, however, has for the first time provided an efficient systemic mode of treatment. Interdisciplinary care plays a special role in providing the most efficient therapeutic options for each patient.
Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization, radioembolization, thermoablation.
