Most liver cancers develop in the setting of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Conditions such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use can all contribute to long-term liver injury and increase cancer risk over time.

Preventing progression of liver disease is a major focus of care. Vaccination, antiviral therapy, weight management, and routine surveillance imaging are all important strategies in identifying liver cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment options may be more successful.