What is the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma?

The primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is chronic liver disease, which is frequently associated with conditions like chronic hepatitis infections (particularly hepatitis B and C) and cirrhosis. These chronic conditions lead to sustained inflammation and cell damage in the liver, ultimately increasing the risk of malignant transformations in hepatocytes, the liver's primary cell type.

Chronic hepatitis infections, especially, are significant risk factors as they can cause persistent liver inflammation and contribute to the development of cirrhosis, a condition characterized by scarring and dysfunction of liver tissue. When liver cells undergo repeated cycles of damage and regeneration, the likelihood of mutations accumulating increases, which can culminate in carcinoma.

Other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption and fatty liver disease do contribute to liver damage and may lead to cirrhosis, but they are not as prevalent in the context of HCC when considering global incidence; instead, the relationship between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis is more directly established as a primary causative pathway to liver cancer. Acute viral infections, while they can cause liver damage and disease, typically do not lead directly to HCC without evolving into a chronic state. Hence, chronic liver disease, often manifesting as cirrhosis from hepatitis