Dr. Montano-Loza on Link Between HCC Risk and High Visceral Adipose Tissue

Aldo J. Montano-Loza, MD, MSc, PhD, associate professor of medicine, program director of hepatology, gastroenterology rotation supervisor, University of Alberta, discusses the link between high visceral adipose tissue and hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with cirrhosis.

In his study, Montano-Loza determined that male patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer had a higher visceral adipose tissue compared to those who did not have liver cancer. Patients that underwent a liver transplant due to liver cancer and then relapsed, were also found to have higher concentration of visceral adipose tissue than those who did not have recurrence after a liver transplant.

These findings suggest that high visceral adipose tissue is associated with a higher risk of liver cancer before and after liver transplant for patients with cirrhosis.