[Is the prevalence of cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma increasing in Korea?].

Background/aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been characterized by a wide spectrum of liver damages that span from steatosis to cryptogenic liver cirrhosis and even to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of this study were to determine whether the prevalence of HCC arising from cryptogenic cirrhosis has increased during the last ten years and to characterize the clinical features of cryptogenic HCC in Korea.

Methods: A retrospective and hospital-based analysis of the clinical data was done in 1,145 HCC patients; group A (Jan.