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