Epidemiologic Study of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the US

Inclusion Criteria for HCC cases:

- a diagnosis of primary liver cancer (excluding secondary tumors)

- a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma if histology is available (excluding those
diagnosed in intrahepatic bile duct, bile canals, biliary passages, canaliculi, gall
duct and gallbladder)

- a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with or without microscopic evaluation
(including those diagnosed with clinical evidence, lab tests and direct visualization
or radiographic and other imaging evidence)

- a histology of primary hepatocellular carcinoma when the patients had a prior
diagnosis of other forms of cancer (excluding those who had no histological diagnosis
of hepatocellular carcinoma while having a prior history of other cancer;

- age at diagnosis between 35 and 84 years

- living in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, or Hawaii for at least a year as regular
residents.

Exclusion Criteria for HCC cases:

- uncertain diagnoses or classification of malignancy, such as unknown origin

- a diagnosis of primary tumors in other organs, not in the liver

- unable to communicate well enough in English or Spanish

- having medical conditions, such as mental disorders, that prevent the subject from
providing reasonably comprehensible information or from being able to give informed
consent.

- diagnosed at age <35 years or >84 years

- temporary residents of New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, or Hawaii

Inclusion Criteria for control subjects:

- age between 35 and 84 years

- living in New Jersey or Connecticut for at least a year as regular residents

- able to communicate well in English or Spanish

- having no medical conditions, such as mental disorders, that prevent them from
providing adequately comprehensible information

- potential subjects with a previous history of cancer are eligible.

Exclusion Criteria for control subjects:

- age < 35 years or > 84 years

- temporary residents of New Jersey or Connecticut

- unable to speak English or Spanish

- cannot provide adequately comprehensible information