[Primary liver cell carcinoma, aetiology and clinical picture (author's transl)]

Geographic area, age and sex influence the epidemiology of hepatoma. Aetiological factors are aflatoxins, sex hormones, thorotrast, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, immunosuppression, vinylchloride, parasites, cirrhosis of the liver, and the hepatitis-B virus. Early diagnosis of the tumour is possible using alpha 1-fetoprotein estimations and modern morphological methods, particularly scintiscanning. Tumour resection is therapeutically desirable, while selective chemotherapy remains palliative and liver transplantation failed to prolong survival.