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Simple Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and early detection plays a crucial role in improving patient survival. However, the current surveillance guidelines may not fully address the growing number of HCC cases in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), who often develop cancer without liver cirrhosis. Our paper aims to review and compare major international guidelines on HCC surveillance, highlighting key gaps in their criteria such as the exclusion of non-cirrhotic NAFLD patients. By exploring advancements in screening technologies, including imaging and biomarkers, we aim to provide insights that could lead to better detection methods for high-risk populations. These findings have the potential to shape future research and updates to clinical guidelines, ensuring that surveillance strategies become more inclusive and effective. Background/Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with prognosis and treatment outcomes that are significantly influenced by the stage at diagnosis. Early detection through regular surveillance is crucial for improving patient outcomes, especially in high-risk groups such as those with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B. Geographic variations in HCC risk factors, including viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have led to the development of different international surveillance guidelines. This review aims to compare and evaluate the surveillance strategies proposed by the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), and the European Association for the Study of the Liver and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EASL–EORTC). Methods: The review examined and compared major international guidelines on HCC surveillance, focusing on patient selection, imaging modalities, and the integration of biomarkers. We also explored recent advancements in screening techniques, including artificial intelligence and emerging biomarkers, to identify future directions for improving surveillance strategies. Results: Our analysis identified key differences in the guidelines, particularly in imaging modality preferences and the use of biomarkers for early detection. While all guidelines place emphasis on high-risk populations, the inclusion criteria and surveillance intervals vary. Additionally, novel technologies such as artificial intelligence show potential to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of HCC detection. Conclusions: This review highlights the need to harmonize the international guidelines, particularly in regard to patients with non-cirrhotic NAFLD who remain under-represented in current surveillance protocols. Future research should focus on integrating emerging technologies and biomarkers to improve early detection and overall patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 800,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) each year, with approximately 700,000 deaths alone occurring in that same year. Treatment of HCC presents complex therapeutic challenges, particularly in intermediate and advanced stages. LRTs such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ablations have been the mainstay treatment for early to intermediate-stage HCC, and systemic therapies are used to treat intermediate-late-stage HCC. However, novel literature describing combining LRT with systemic therapies has shown promising results. This review explores recent advances in both liver-directed techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma, including bland transarterial embolization, chemoembolization, radioembolization, and ablative therapies in conjunction as well as with systemic therapies, with a focus on combination therapies, patient selection, procedural technique, periprocedural management, and outcomes. Our findings suggest that LRT combined with systemic therapies is a viable strategy for improving progression-free survival and time to progression for patients with intermediate-to-late-stage HCC. However, further investigation is required to refine treatment protocols and define patient cohorts that would benefit the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring quality of life (QOL) after cranioplasty is increasingly evident as a necessary component of patient-centered care. For data to be useful in clinical decision-making and approval of new therapies, studies must utilize valid and reliable instruments. Our objective was to critically appraise studies evaluating QOL in adult cranioplasty patients and determine validity and relevance of the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used. Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO were used to identify PROMs measuring QOL in adult patients with cranioplasty. The methodological approach, cranioplasty outcomes, and domains measured by the PROMs were extracted and summarized descriptively. A content analysis of the identified PROMs was completed to identify the concepts measured. From 2236 articles identified, 17 articles containing eight QOL PROMs met the inclusion criteria. None of the PROMs was specifically validated or developed for adults undergoing cranioplasty. The QOL domains included physical health, psychological health, social health, and general QOL. These four domains encompassed 216 total items among the PROMs. Appearance was only assessed in two PROMs. To our knowledge, there are currently no validated PROMs that comprehensively measure appearance, facial function, and adverse effects in adults undergoing cranioplasty. There is an urgent need to develop PROMs to measure QOL outcomes rigorously and comprehensively in this patient population to inform clinical care, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Findings from this systematic review will be used to derive an outcome instrument containing important concepts related to QOL in patients who undergo cranioplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]