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Aflatoxin, a mycotoxin produced by pollutant molds, is a potent hepatotoxic and carcinogenic agent. Dietary exposition to it is of particular importance in certain regions of Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Populations in these regions suffer from high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and have high frequency of the mutation in the codon 249 of p53 gene; besides, prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is high in those populations. Synergism between infection with HBV and the exposition to this mycotoxin in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma has been demonstrated. Few studies have explored the exposition to aflatoxin in the diet of populations in Latin America, and the role in them of this mycotoxin as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown. In this article different aspects of aflatoxin are reviewed with emphasis on its relationship with HBV infection and with such neoplasia.

El cáncer primario de hígado es en el mundo la quinta neoplasia más común en hombres y la octava en mujeres, con gran impacto debido a su alta mortalidad, ya que representa la tercera causa de mortalidad relacionada con cáncer en población masculina. Se ha descrito una fuerte asociación con factores de riesgo como las hepatitis virales crónicas, las hepatopatías de origen genético, el consumo de alcohol, el tabaquismo y enfermedades metabólicas, entre otras. En este artículo se analizan publicaciones originales y de revisión en las que se evalúan dichos factores y su asociación con el carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC). Además, se recopila información actualizada sobre datos epidemiológicos por regiones del mundo. Primary liver cancer is the 5th neoplasia more common among men and 8th among women worldwide. It has a great impact because of its high mortality; Liver cancer ranks third amongst the causes of cancer-related deaths in men. It has been associated with some risk factors as chronic viral hepatitis, genetic liver disease, intake of alcohol, use of tobacco, metabolic disease and others. This document corresponds to a review of original papers of evaluation of those factors and its association with liver cancer and also reviewed articles. Additionally, updated epidemiological information of liver cancer worldwide is included.