This page provides general information for patients and referrers in Australia. It is not personal medical advice. Discuss your situation with your doctor, or contact Liver Screen if you have been referred to our clinic.
There is no national screening program
Australia has national programs for breast, bowel, and cervical cancer — but not for liver cancer. HCC surveillance is organised through your GP and liver specialist for people who meet clinical risk criteria. Staying on a six-monthly schedule is the key step you can take.
Who is usually offered surveillance?
Guidance in Australia generally includes people with cirrhosis (of most causes) who would be suitable for HCC treatment, and certain people with chronic hepatitis B even without cirrhosis, including:
- Asian–Pacific men over 40 years
- Asian–Pacific women over 50 years
- People of sub-Saharan African background over 20 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50 years
- Aboriginal people with additional high-risk features from age 40
- Anyone over 40 with a first-degree family history of HCC (sometimes starting earlier based on the youngest family case)
Your clinician confirms whether surveillance is right for you. It is usually not recommended in very advanced liver disease unless transplant is being considered.
What the screening test is
Standard surveillance is a liver ultrasound every six months, with or without an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test. Ultrasound looks for new nodules; AFP is a blood marker that can add information but is not used alone.
FibroScan FibroScan measures scarring and fat. It does not replace ultrasound for HCC surveillance.
If something abnormal is found
A nodule or rising AFP does not always mean cancer. Your team may arrange a repeat scan, multiphase CT or MRI, and specialist review. Early-stage HCC can sometimes be treated with ablation, resection, transplant assessment, or other therapies — which is why timely follow-up matters.
How Liver Screen can help
We support people living with chronic hepatitis B and other chronic liver diseases with fibrosis assessment, treatment monitoring, and clear advice on whether HCC surveillance applies — and how to stay on schedule with your GP and imaging providers.
Clinical partners
For GPs and referrers
Offer six-monthly ultrasound ± AFP to eligible patients who are willing and suitable for HCC treatment. Once started, surveillance is generally lifelong unless clinical circumstances change.
Practical tips
- Document the indication (cirrhosis aetiology; HBV risk group; family history).
- Use recalls/reminders for the six-month interval — missed scans are common.
- Investigate new nodules promptly with multiphase contrast imaging per local pathways.
- Do not rely on FibroScan or LFTs alone to exclude HCC.
- Refer to Liver Screen for integrated HBV care, FibroScan, and surveillance planning via our contact page.
Align with Cancer Council Australia HCC surveillance guidance and ASHM hepatitis B recommendations for non-cirrhotic HBV risk groups.