Hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with and without cirrhosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has become the leading chronic liver disease in the developed world, with a prevalence of 6%-35%. Its pathological spectrum ranges from simple steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver) to different degrees of inflammation and liver cell damage [non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)]. NASH has gained attention in recent years because of its association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the occurrence of HCC is more frequent in the presence of cirrhosis, studies have shown that hepatic carcinogenesis may also develop in the context of NASH without association with advanced fibrosis, as well as from simple steatosis. Evidence of the onset of HCC in the absence of cirrhosis is of concern, since recent surveillance and screening guidelines for liver cancer do not include this population subgroup. Therefore, it is imperative that new effective screening and monitoring measures for HCC, or even the reformulation of these recommendations, be taken to handle these patients considered to be at high risk. The present paper aims to review the literature on the occurrence of HCC in patients with NASH with or without cirrhosis. In addition, we report a case showing the development of HCC in a patients with NASH without cirrhosis