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Saudi guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma: technical review and practice
Ayman A Abdo1, Mazen Hassanain, AbdulRahman AlJumah
1Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. aabdo@ksu.edu.sa
Insights
Updated Saudi guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management offer evidence-based recommendations tailored for Saudi Arabia. These guidelines aim to improve early diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary care for HCC patients.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Oncology
- Liver Disease Management
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant health challenge in Saudi Arabia.
- Existing challenges include difficulties in early diagnosis, evidence-based management, and patient referral.
- Previous guidelines required updating to reflect current medical knowledge and local context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and update existing Saudi guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations tailored to the Saudi Arabian patient population.
- To enhance the multidisciplinary approach to HCC patient care.
Main Methods:
- Formation of a multi-disciplinary task force including hepatologists, oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists.
- Comprehensive literature search on HCC epidemiology, natural history, risk factors, diagnosis, and management.
- Critical examination of available evidence, classification by strength, and consensus-based recommendations.
Main Results:
- Revised guidelines developed based on the best available evidence.
- Recommendations are specifically tailored for patients within Saudi Arabia.
- Endorsement by the Saudi Oncology Society (SOS) ensures widespread adoption.
Conclusions:
- The updated guidelines provide a framework for improved HCC patient care in Saudi Arabia.
- Emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for optimal outcomes.
- These guidelines are expected to enhance the standard of care for HCC patients.
Abstract:
Recognizing the significant prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Saudi Arabia, and the difficulties often faced in early and accurate diagnoses, evidence-based management, and the need for appropriate referral of HCC patients, the Saudi Association for the Study of Liver diseases and Transplantation (SASLT) formed a multi-disciplinary task force to evaluate and update the previously published guidelines by the Saudi Gastroenterology Association. These guidelines were later reviewed, adopted and endorsed by the Saudi Oncology Society (SOS) as its official HCC guidelines as well. The committee assigned to revise the Saudi HCC guidelines was composed of hepatologists, oncologists, liver surgeons, transplant surgeons, and interventional radiologists. Two members of the task force served as guidelines editors. A wide based search on all published reports on all aspects of the epidemiology, natural history, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of HCC was performed. All available literature was critically examined and available evidence was then classified according to its strength. The whole document and the recommendations were then discussed in detail by members and consensus was obtained. All recommendations in these guidelines were based on the best available evidence, but were tailored to the patients treated in Saudi Arabia. We hope that these guidelines will improve HCC patient care and enhance the multidisciplinary care needed for these patients.
