Interpretation of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of primary liver cancer (2019 edition) in China

Abstract

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is currently the fourth most common malignancy and accounts for the second most cancer-related deaths in China. Since 2017, a great deal of high-level evidence, and particularly evidence based on Chinese studies and practice, has emerged in terms of diagnosis, staging, and treatment. A new version of the guidelines for the management of PLC specifying the diagnosis and treatment of PLC (2019 edition) has recently been published. The guidelines feature major changes in the techniques for early diagnosis, the combination of surgery, local therapy, and systemic treatment, and the use of traditional Chinese medicine. The guidelines need to be further implemented in clinical practice to demonstrate their validity.