OBJECTIVES: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. We aimed to assess the burden of HCC, which has the highest prevalence in Asian countries.

METHODS: Embase® and MEDLINE® were searched from database start to January 2018. Studies assessing the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of HCC were included in the review.

RESULTS: HCC comprises 95% of all primary liver cancer incidences in Japan, which ranks it 3^rd in men and 5^th in women as a cause of death from any malignancy. HCC was the second leading cause of cancer death in urban China at ASMRW 17.26 per 100,000 accounting for 14.42 % of all cancer deaths in 2009. Mortality due to liver cancer was higher in males (ASMRW 26.14) than in females (ASMRW 8.54) per 100,000. Incidence of liver cancer dramatically increases after the age of 45 years in men, peaking at 65-69 years age group, and 55 years in women peaking at 80-84 years age group. Five-year prevalence rates for HCC were highest in Japan and S. Korea (>30 cases per 100,000), followed by China (>20 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). In Korea, the age-specific incidence of liver cancer in men aged 35-64 was at 66.5 per 100,000 years (3rd highest amongst other cancers), which rose to 202.1 per 100,000 in ≥65-year age-group in 2011. HCV was the major cause of HCC development in Japan and accounted for 70% of all HCC cases. However, in China, S. Korea, and other Asian countries, HBV was major etiological factor for HCC.

CONCLUSIONS: Asia countries have the highest burden of HCC with China, Korea, and Japan leading in disease prevalence. Major causes of HCC are HBV and HCV infections.