Short-term spinal cord stimulation vs. pulsed radiofrequency in acute/subacute herpes zoster pain.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence continues to rise, driven by chronic hepatitis B and C infections, metabolic liver disease, and cirrhosis. Despite advances in imaging and therapy, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when curative interventions, such as resection or transplantation, are no longer useful. Early-stage HCC is frequently asymptomatic, and current biomarkers lack the sensitivity and specificity needed for reliable detection. This limitation underscores the need for biologically based biomarkers that can identify early or indeterminate (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System [LI-RADS] 3/4) lesions on imaging to improve clinical decision-making. Many imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are used in clinical practice and serum biomarkers, such as α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin, are commonly used to assist in detection and monitoring. However, diagnosing HCC at an early stage remains a significant challenge. These techniques often lack sensitivity, especially with small lesions or in the context of liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, false-positive diagnoses may lead to unnecessary invasive procedures or undue patient anxiety. Therefore, molecular signatures, such as serum or tumor biomarkers that deliver higher sensitivity and specificity for the early and accurate detection of HCC as diagnostic tools, are greatly needed. Tumor heterogeneity is a well-known feature of HCC, and results in high diversity at the cellular, molecular, functional, and lineage levels. Cellular and molecular variability poses a significant barrier to early diagnosis. This biological complexity gives rise to distinct molecular profiles even at early disease stages and in small nodules. Thus, conventional imaging phenotypes or bulk biopsy assessments may fail to capture the full molecular lesion complexity. In these contexts, molecular signatures, such as gene-expression panels, pathway-activation markers, or cell type–specific transcripts, may provide the sensitivity needed to detect small or early HCC lesions by capturing the molecular “footprint” of malignant transformation that precedes overt radiological changes.