EASL Policy Statement on Liver Cancer Screening

Geneva, 27 May 2022: In Europe, the number of deaths from liver cancer has doubled in the past 30 years. Screening for liver cancer with an ultrasound examination every six months is an established method to reduce mortality resulting from liver cancer. EASL guidelines recommend that screening for liver cancer is offered to patients with chronic liver disease, but the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) find that there is insufficient evidence for such a recommendation. Consequently, there is no political support for EASL’s recommendation. This Policy Statement addresses this urgent problem, defining a strategy towards aligning EASL guidelines, patient preferences, and policy recommendations.