For example, while some data support decreased mortality related to screening people with hepatitis B infection, the AASLD notes, “There are no randomized trials [for screening] in Western populations with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C or fatty liver disease, and thus there is some controversy surrounding whether surveillance truly leads to a reduction in mortality in this population of patients with cirrhosis.”

Higher risk people
In a person where a higher suspicion of HCC exists, such as a person with symptoms or abnormal blood tests (i.e. alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma carboxyprothrombin levels), evaluation requires imaging of the liver by CT or MRI scans. Optimally, these scans are performed with intravenous contrast in multiple phases of hepatic perfusion to improve detection and accurate classification of any liver lesions by the interpreting radiologist. Due to the characteristic blood flow pattern of HCC tumors, a specific perfusion pattern of any detected liver lesion may conclusively detect an HCC tumor. Alternatively, the scan may detect an indeterminate lesion and further evaluation may be performed by obtaining a physical sample of the lesion. Imaging
Ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI may be used to evaluate the liver for HCC. On CT and MRI, HCC can have three distinct patterns of growth:
A single large tumor
Multiple tumors
Poorly defined tumor with an infiltrative growth patternA systematic review of CT diagnosis found that the sensitivity was 68% (95% CI 55–80%) and specificity was 93% (95% CI 89–96%) compared with pathologic examination of an explanted or resected liver as the reference standard.
Toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG), also known as multinodular toxic goiter (MNTG), is an active multinodular goiter associated with hyperthyroidism. It is a common cause of hyperthyroidism in which there is excess production of thyroid hormones from functionally autonomous thyroid nodules, which do not require stimulation from thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).Toxic multinodular goiter is the second most common cause of hyperthyroidism (after Graves disease) in the developed world, whereas iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in developing-world countries where the population is iodine-deficient. (Decreased iodine leads to decreased thyroid hormone.) However, iodine deficiency can cause goiter (thyroid enlargement); within a goitre, nodules can develop. Risk factors for toxic multinodular goiter include individuals over 60 years of age and being female. Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of toxic multinodular goitre are similar to that of hyperthyroidism, including:
heat intolerance
muscle weakness/wasting
hyperactivity
fatigue
tremor
irritability
weight loss
osteoporosis
increased appetite
non-painful goitre (swelling of the thyroid gland)
tachycardia (high heart rate - above 100 beats per minute at rest in adults)
tracheal compression
exophthalmos

Causes
Sequence of events:
Iodine deficiency leading to decreased T4 production. Induction of thyroid cell hyperplasia due to low levels of T4. This accounts for the multinodular goitre appearance. Increased replication predisposes to a risk of mutation in the TSH receptor. If the mutated TSH receptor is constitutively active, it would then become toxic and produces excess T3/T4 leading to hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis
Treatments
Toxic multinodular goiter can be treated with antithyroid medications such as propylthiouracil or methimazole, radioactive iodine, or with surgery. Another treatment option is injection of ethanol into the nodules.