Deck 20: Epidemiology of Liver Cancer

Question 1

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common malignancy in the world (more than 841,080 new cases were diagnosed in 2018) and the third most common cause of death due to cancer (781,631 deaths in 2018).

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Hepatocellular carcinoma is usually fatal within 6 months of diagnosis.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma are chronic infection by Hepatitis Viruses B and/or C, chronic exposure to aflatoxins, chronic alcohol abuse, and combinations of these risk factors.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Combinations of risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV, HCV, alcohol, and aflatoxins) synergistically increase the risk.

Question 5

An effective vaccine has been developed against HBV.

Question 6

An effective vaccine has been developed against HCV.

Question 7

Co-infection with HIV and HCV promotes the rapid progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Question 8

The most important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in the US population is HCV.

Question 9

Due to improved methods of detecting HCV in donor blood, there has not been a documented post-transfusion case of HCV in the United States for more than a decade.

Question 10

The primary vector of transmission of HCV in the US is by intravenous injection of illicit drugs using contaminated needles.

Question 11

More than 50% of new cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are diagnosed in the population of:

A) Sub-Saharan Africa.
B) India.
C) Southeast Asia.
D) China.

Question 12

Two liver viruses, HBV and HCV, account for what percentage of all cases of hepatocellular carcinomas in the world population?

A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 90%

Question 13

Chronic infection by either HBV or HCV increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by about:

A) 2-fold.
B) 5-fold.
C) 10-fold.
D) 20-fold.

Question 14

Chronic co-infection by both HBV and HCV increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by about:

A) 10-fold.
B) 20-fold.
C) 40-fold.
D) 100-fold.

Question 15

The most important vehicle for the transmission of HBV is:

A) blood.
B) semen.
C) sputum.
D) saliva.

Question 16

At present, the primary route of HCV transmission in the United States is by:

A) the fecal oral route.
B) sexual contact.
C) contaminated needles used for injection of illicit drugs.
D) transfusion of contaminated blood.

Question 17

The primary risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in the US population is:

A) chronic HBV infection.
B) chronic HCV infection.
C) chronic alcohol abuse leading to liver cirrhosis.
D) co-infection by HIV and HCV.

Question 18

The strongest risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma in Southeast Asia is:

A) chronic HBV infection.
B) chronic HCV infection.
C) chronic infection by liver flukes.
D) chronic exposure to aflatoxins.

Question 19

Describe the two major forms of primary liver cancer.

Question 20

Describe the global burden of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Question 21

Discuss major risk factors that independently increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Question 22

Contrast the transmission of HBV and HCV in populations of developing and developed nations.

Question 23

Discuss the impact of co-infection by HBV and HCV in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Question 24

Describe how chronic alcohol abuse promotes the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Question 25

Discuss the epidemiology of cholangiocarcinoma.

Question 26

Discuss the role of vaccines in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.