Surgical resection versus liver transplant for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major worldwide health problem, involving more than half a million new patients yearly, with a different incidence in different parts of the world. Hepatocellular carcinoma develops in about 80% of cirrhotic patients, and cirrhosis is considered the strongest predisposing factor for it. Surgical resection and liver transplantation are conventional treatment modalities that can offer long-term survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.