Liver Cancer and Hepatitis: Understanding the Link

The vast majority of liver cancer cases worldwide are associated with either chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Approximately 50-80% of liver cancer cases in developing countries are attributed to HBV infection, and 15-30% of liver cancer cases are caused by HCV infection. In developed countries, the proportion of liver cancer cases associated with viral hepatitis infection is lower, with HCV infection being the primary cause. It's important to note that there are other risk factors for liver cancer, such as alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and certain genetic conditions, but chronic viral hepatitis infections remain the leading causes of liver cancer globally.