Liver cancer has the second highest mortality rate in Korea. It is the leading cause of death among people in their 40’s and 50’s, and consequently the socioeconomic loss from liver cancer is high. To reduce this loss, the National Cancer Screening Program has been underway since 2003. However, there has been no evaluation of the effectiveness of the National Liver Cancer Surveillance in reducing the disease burden of liver cancer. 

This study aims to evaluate the health and economic benefits of implementation of the National Liver Cancer Surveillance for patients at risk of liver cancer (patients with liver cirrhosis, those who are hepatitis B/C antigen-positive, or those with chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis B or C virus). The research objectives are listed below: 

(1) To evaluate the status and diagnostic accuracy of the National Liver Cancer Surveillance. 

(2) To investigate whether the National Liver Cancer Surveillance enables early detection of liver cancer, and improves the survival rate.  

(3) To evaluate changes in healthcare expenses due to liver cancer as a result of the National Liver Cancer Surveillance.