Improving hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in the United Kingdom: challenges and solutions

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis remains dismal due to late-stage diagnosis; surveillance has been demonstrated to increase early diagnosis rates and receipt of curative treatment. Acknowledging limitations in the evidence base for HCC surveillance, international professional bodies reiterate the recommendation for biannual HCC surveillance and NHS England supports measures aimed to increase surveillance uptake. The current ad hoc provision of HCC surveillance is prone to failures, evident by low surveillance uptake and high numbers of patients being diagnosed outside of surveillance. We discuss challenges related to HCC surveillance in the UK and potential solutions to addressing them. We highlight the requirements of a consistent and effective national surveillance process, and suggest pathways on how this can be achieved.