Hepatic Outcomes of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Including Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and represents a significant cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Almost 20% of patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis develop cirrhosis, of which 20% can progress to decompensated liver stage. Although patients with cirrhosis or fibrosis continue to have a high risk for HCC progression, growing evidence shows that NAFLD-HCC can develop even in the absence of cirrhosis. Current evidence characterizes NAFLD-HCC primarily as a condition with late presentation, lower response to curative therapy, and poor prognosis.

Keywords: Fatty liver; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Nonalcoholic fatty liver; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.