Liver cancer

Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. An estimated 750,000 people worldwide were diagnosed with liver cancer in 2008, accounting for 6% of the total.1 Over the past two decades, large increases in incidence (particularly in younger age groups) have been reported in the USA, Japan and parts of Europe.2

The major risk factors for liver cancer include chronic infection with hepatitis B and C (accounting for 54% and 31% of cases worldwide, respectively), the consumption of foods contaminated with aflatoxin (produced by fungi which can contaminate foodstuffs such as maize and nuts in tropical or sub-tropical countries) and heavy alcohol consumption.2-5  The developing countries carry the biggest burden of liver cancer, with more than eight out of ten (84%) cases being diagnosed there in 2008.1

Liver cancer incidence worldwide is nearly three times as high in men than in women (rate ratio 2.7 : 1.0).1 There is a ten-fold variation in male incidence rates between the different regions of the world (Figure 7.1) and an eight-fold variation in female rates (Figure 7.2).1 In 2008, male incidence rates ranged from 3 per 100,000 in South-Central Asia to 36 per 100,000 in Eastern Asia, and female rates ranged from 2 per 100,000 to 13 per 100,000 in the same regions. 

Figure 7.1: Liver Cancer (C22), World Age-Standardised Incidence and Mortality Rates, Males, Regions of the World, 2008 Estimates

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Figure 7.1: Liver Cancer (C22), World Age-Standardised Incidence and Mortality Rates, Females, Regions of the World, 2008 Estimates

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With high rates of hepatitis B and C infection and widespread alcohol use,6 Mongolia has the highest incidence rates by far (117 and 75 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively). Liver cancer is rare in the UK, and was joint 134th highest out of 184 countries worldwide for males and joint 132nd highest for females.1

section updated 19/09/11

Liver cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, estimated to be responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths in 2008.1 The prognosis for liver cancer is poor (the ratio of mortality to incidence was 0.93 in 2008), and as such the geographical patterns in incidence and mortality are very similar (Figures 7.1 and 7.2).1

section updated 19/09/011