Survival Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Experience from a Multidisciplinary Committee in Ecuador

Hepatic cancer is a world health concern due to its high lethality. The main risk factor worldwide is having hepatic cirrhosis. The etiology of hepatic cirrhosis has changed in recent years, with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) becoming the leading cause, displacing hepatitis C and B viruses and alcoholic liver disease. It is of the utmost importance to develop screening programs in at-risk populations for early detection. The survival rate of HCC, as determined by a group of specialists or an interdisciplinary committee, is a challenge we have taken on in a public health hospital in Ecuador. This retrospective study identified 71 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, mostly middle-aged men with a history of liver cirrhosis. No significant association was found between the presence of cirrhosis, laboratory abnormalities, and survival. However, the identification by imaging vascular invasion and extrahepatic extension were associated. This study highlights that patients with liver lesions identified through HCC screening have a higher survival rate over a one-year follow-up period.