The story of HCC in NAFLD : from epidemiology, across pathogenesis, to prevention and treatment

Background & Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) is a leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. An increasing number of reports describe HCC in the setting of obesity and diabetes, two major risk factors for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ). The increasing incidence of these conditions and the emerging evidence of HCC in non‐cirrhotic NAFLD prioritize a better understanding of NAFLD ‐related HCC epidemiology and pathogenesis in order to target screening policies and develop preventive‐therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on the epidemiological impact of this condition, suggesting a possible link between HCC in cryptogenic cirrhosis and NAFLD . Furthermore, we analyse the suggested pathogenic mechanisms and the possible preventive‐therapeutic strategies.