Which of the following statement(s) about malignant neoplasms of the liver is/are true?

A. Hepatocellular carcinoma is probably the number 1 cause of death from cancers worldwide.

B. The most common resectable hepatic malignant neoplasm in the United States is colorectal metastasis.

C. Hepatoma has at least one variant that has a much more benign course than hepatomas in general.

D. Hepatomas are generally slower growing than was formerly believed.

DISCUSSION: Although exact comparisons are impossible, hepatoma seems to be the most common cause of cancer death worldwide, despite its relative infrequency in the United States. Colorectal metastasis is a more common indication for surgical treatment in the United States. The fibrolamellar variant and possibly the very well-differentiated tumor probably have a better prognosis than hepatomas in general. Previous studies from Africa in which there was a high incidence of rupture account for the poor prognosis that was generally attributed to hepatoma. Recent studies from Europe and the United States have shown that survival after presentation is usually measured in years.