[en] Liver diseases are common worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest primary liver cancer. It has varied incidences globally but it is particularly common in Africans with a high prevalence in Nigerians where it accounted for the 4th commonest cause of death in both sexes between 1976 and 1995 (table 1). Similarly its incidence has remained persistently high between 3.1 and 8.6% per annum. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs among all socio-economic classes of the population and is commonest among the 30-50 year group, two decades earlier than in the Caucasians and Americans. However, patients with HCC present in several patterns with majority having sudden onset of abdominal pain and swelling which is usually progressive, running an aggressive course. These patients who are in their prime of life arrive late in hospitals when the disease is advanced and is unlikely to respond to the usual modalities of therapy hence the disease has a gloomy picture. The solution is EARLY DIAGNOSIS with PROMPT THERAPY for achieving possible CURE of the disease