Glossary
Hepatocellular carcinoma
(heh-PA-toh-SEL-yoo-ler KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
A type of cancer that forms in liver cells called hepatocytes. Hepatocytes are the most common cells of the liver, and they carry out most of the functions of the liver. Factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma include having chronic infection with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, chronic alcohol use disorder, and cirrhosis. Most adult primary liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas. Also called HCC.
Definition from the National Cancer Institute’s NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.