Liver cancer - UK incidence statistics

Liver cancer is within the top twenty most common cancers in the UK (18th), with almost 3,600 new cases diagnosed in 2008 (Table 1.1). 64% of the new cases are diagnosed in males giving a male:female ratio of around 5:3.1-4

It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing liver cancer is 1 in 137 for men and 1 in 244 for women in the UK. These were calculated in April 2011 using incidence and mortality data for 2006-2008 for women and 2008 for men using the AMP method.5

Table 1.1: Liver cancer (C22), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2008

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*95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS Rate

Section updated: 14/07/11

Figure 1.1 shows the age-specific cases and rates for liver cancer in the UK. Around 7% of cases of liver cancer are registered in persons under 50 while around 7 in 10 cases occur in persons over 65 years old.

Figure 1.1: Liver cancer (C22), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates, UK, 2006-2008

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Incidence rates increase steeply with age and the highest rates occur in the oldest age groups. For those aged 85 and over the incidence rate per 100,000 men is 47 whilst for women it is 26. In people aged 40 and over, rates are significantly higher in men than women. 

Section updated: 14/07/11

In Great Britain the age-standardised incidence rates have tripled from 1.4 to 4.3 per 100,000 persons between 1975-77 and 2006-08  (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2: Liver cancer (C22), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, Great Britain, 1975-2008

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The liver cancer incidence trend for the UK has increased by 69% from 2.5 to 4.3 per 100,000 persons between 1993-1995 and 2006-2008 (Figure 1.3). The increase in males (70%) has been greater than in females (62%). 

Figure 1.3: Liver cancer (C22), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, UK, 1993-2008

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Section updated: 14/07/11

In a recent study comparing the cancer incidence across ethnic groups in England,6 age-standardised rates for males in the White ethnic group ranged from 4.7 to 5.1 per 100,000 for all ages. Rates for the Asian ethnic group were significantly higher for all ages, ranging from 6.9 to 12.4 per 100,000 and the rates for the Black ethnic group were also significantly higher, ranging from 6.9 to 13.6 per 100,000. For females there was a similar pattern - the age-standardised rates for the White ethnic group ranged from 2.2 to 2.4 per 100,000 for all ages, whereas the rates for the Asian and Black ethnic groups were significantly higher - 3.1 to 6.0 per 100,000 and 2.5 to 5.4 per 100,000 respectively. 

Section updated: 14/07/11

Liver cancer is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Prognosis for liver cancer is poor so incidence and mortality patterns are very similar.

There is a ten fold variation in male incidence rates between the different regions of the world and in women the difference is eight fold (Figure 1.4). 7

Figure 1.4: Liver cancer (C22), World Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, World Regions, 2008 Estimates

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The highest rates for both males and females are reported in Eastern Asia (35.5 in males and 12.7 in females), while the lowest rates are recorded in South-Central Asia at 3.4 for males and 1.6 for females. Liver cancer is rare in the UK, male rates rank 135th of the 184 countries worldwide and female rates rank 136th.

The major risk factors for liver cancer are infection with hepatitis B and C and heavy alcohol consumption, all of which can cause cirrhosis. Smokers and diabetics are also at increased risk, while consumption of foods contaminated with aflatoxin is a cause of liver cancer in many developing countries. 

Section updated: 14/07/11

Prevalence data relate to those people in the UK population who were alive on a specific date having previously been diagnosed with cancer. The latest analysis shows that on 31st December 2006, around 2,600 people were alive up to ten years after being diagnosed with liver cancer.8 Table 1.2 shows the one, five and ten year prevalence by sex for liver cancer.

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Section updated: 14/07/11