Reducing the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hepatitis B & C - a podcast by ReachMD

CME credits: 0.25

Valid until: 26-08-2021

Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/reducing-the-risk-of-hepatocellular-carcinoma-in-hepatitis-b-c/11714/

Chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C are the major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the US, and physicians often fail to follow HCC screening recommendations. Studies show that less than 20 percent of patients at high risk for HCC ever undergo surveillance. Prognosis is typically poor when HCC is diagnosed late; survival rates of patients with advanced untreated disease are reported to be less than 6 months. However, when identified and treated in earlier stages, HCC 5-year survival rates may approach 80 percent, underscoring the need for surveillance and screening of those at risk. The advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies leading to reduced viral load has been a major breakthrough in reducing the risk of HCC; nonetheless, surveillance for cancer must be continued due to residual HCC risk.

There are a number of barriers to screening and surveillance for HCC, including lack of familiarity with current guidelines, lack of information on risk stratification and appropriate screening modalities, and challenges in communicating with patients about HCC surveillance. Patients treated for hepatitis B with antiviral therapy should continue to be screened for HCC regardless of cirrhosis. Surveillance for HCC should also be continued for all hepatitis C patients ...

Further episodes of ReachMD CME

Further podcasts by ReachMD

Website of ReachMD