Racial and insurance disparities in the receipt of transplant among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: : Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a poor prognosis if their tumors are not diagnosed early. The authors investigated factors associated with the receipt of liver transplant among patients with HCC and evaluated the effects of these differences on survival.

Methods: : The authors reviewed records from consecutive patients diagnosed with HCC at Columbia University Medical Center from January 1, 2002 to September 1, 2008.