World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13(48): 6553-6557 <a href="http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/6553.aspINTRODUCTIONUpward">http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/6553.aspINTRODUCTIONUpward</a> trends in incidence or mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported in the United States, Japan and several European countries, including Italy, over the last two or three decades.