Obesity as a Risk Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Noncirrhotic Patient

Obesity places people at risk of developing cirrhosis.[1] [2] [3] A subset of patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis had not only a history of overweight, but also a wide range of overweight-related metabolic features such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high-serum ferritin, which define insulin resistance. A high incidence of liver cancer in obese patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis was reported recently.[1] [4] [5] The underlying metabolic abnormalities defining or associated with an obesity-related insulin-resistant state could promote carcinogenesis, irrespective of the presence of cirrhosis. Here we report a case that may support this hypothesis.

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