RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA NOTIFIED TO THEANTICANCER-COUNCIL-OF-VICTORIA IN 1991-1992

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of risk factors for liver d isease, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HC V) infection, in a population-based series of hepatocellular carcinoma , and to assess the feasibility of retrospective surveys in determinin g risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. A survey of all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed in 1991 and 1992 documented the hig h contribution of alcoholic cirrhosis, particularly in Australian-born men. Low levels of testing for HBV and HCT: made their contribution t o hepatocellular carcinoma uncertain. No cases of hepatocellular carci noma due to HBV or HCV were reported in Australian-born subjects. High er rates of HBV carriage in those tested were found in Asian and Medit erranean immigrants. Testing for HCV was known to have occurred for le ss than a quarter of subjects, and assessment for multiple aetiologica l risk factors was rare. The burgeoning epidemic of HCV will require i mproved surveillance for the sequelae of long-term infection. Satisfac tory surveillance will require cooperation from clinicians in regard t o the completeness of medical records and adequate resources for cance r registries to supplement their passive reporting system with exposur e data.