Hepatocellular carcinoma remains one of the most common internal malignancies of mankind. It ranks fifth in frequency in the world. The number of cases of HCC are continually increasing worldwide. There are not many cases of this kind of cancer in Poland (it estimates at about 3 per 100 thousand people), although the incidence is also increasing in our country.

The higher incidence is reported in the developed countries of South Asia and Far East. In the USA it is most common problem in black than in white people.

Main etiological factor is hepatitis chronic caused by hepatitis C or B virus, especially cases with liver failure. Many researchers mark the growing importance of HCV in HCC origin. The more frequent and chronic HCV infection, the more cases of HCC incidence, also in younger patients.

Hepatitis C is one of the main epidemiological problems in Poland lately. Even 300 million of people are infected worldwide and the rate of carriers estimates at about 100 million people. 25 to 30 years after the first symptoms of HCV many people with that infection will have cirrhosis or develop HCC.

The other risk factors are: hepatitis B virus infection, alcohol consumption, diabetes, cryptogenic cirrhosis and other. The level of knowledge about this primary neoplasm of liver is not adequate.

In our study we present recent sociological data about above mentioned neoplasm and its relation with tobacco HCV infection.