Preface

The combination of the high global prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the complex nature of hepatic anatomy and physiology, and the continuously increasing wealth of information and techniques regarding its management, make HCC one of the most interesting and challenging areas in surgery. As such, it is also an area where a multidisciplinary approach is a necessity, especially given the combined medical and surgical issues that these patients face. The role of the surgeon is critical in the sense that decisions must be made regarding the different strategies and techniques and which one is best for the specific patient at the specific stage of the disease.

This book provides an overview of the main challenges and opportunities involved in the multidisciplinary management of HCC, whether they have to do with epidemiology, molecular diagnosis, staging, the role of immunotherapy or, of course, the great variety of surgical techniques and technologies involved in the therapy. Its value lies in the fact that the authors present us with their distilled wisdom, which is the result of substantial experience and daily involvement in this most difficult field of medicine and surgery.

Overall, this book is a useful resource for any physician, whether they are in training or in practice, treating patients with hepatic diseases.

> **Georgios Tsoulfas, MD, Ph.D., FICS, FACS** Professor of Transplantation Surgery, Chief, Department of Transplantation Surgery, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
