Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common fatal malignan cies of mankind. Up to a few decades ago it was looked upon as a cancer which aroused mainly academic concern but relatively little clinical interest, because its therapy and prognosis had a most un favorable outlook. Indeed, it was mostly recognized only at autopsy. Recently this pessimism has radically changed and is disappearing to a rapidly accelerating degree. Many of the scientific contributions at this change in outlook are the result of research in the Far East, first, Japan and then gradually extending to its neighbors. The introduction of experimental hepatocarcinogens by Yoshida more than 50 years ago may have been one of the first important steps. Hepatocellular car cinoma shows a characteristic geographical distribution. With the highest incidence in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, followed by southern and eastern Europe, while generally the incidence is rather low in western and northern Europe and North and South America.

Hepatology has come of age in the last decades. Biology of the liver has flour ished long before. As the largest homogeneous organ of the body the liver served as useful model in the development of biochemistry and related discip lines. Only gradually were these biological investigations applied to the clinical study of liver disease. This was particularly stimulated by the recognition that in the greater part of the world, the developing countries and what we now call the Third World, liver disease represents a major threat to overall public health. It leads to morbidity and mortality of persons in their productive years from liver cancer, cirrhosis and parasitic disease, particularly, schistosomiasis. Moreover, the growing emphasis on the social impact of diseases focused on disorders of the liver because malnutrition, poverty, and drug addiction contrib ute greatly to their spread. This is compounded by the increase of alcohol abuse, recently on the rise even in the developing countries. Concern with envi ronmental pollution has also raised the interest in liver diseases, in part because the liver acts as a guardian against polluting chemicals and in part because it is considered, possibly to an exaggerated degree, a vulnerable target of such chemicals.

This volume comprises a series of original articles, updates and reviews on relevant topics in hepatology which were presented at a meeting in Freiburg im Breisgau to honour the 60th anniversary of Dr. Herbert Falk. Since 1967, Dr. Falk and the Falk Foundation have generously sponsored more than 40 congresses and symposia on liver diseases, held mostly in Freiburg, The Black Forest or in Basel, which have become milestones in the ex change of scientific information in hepatology (see 'To Herbert Falk on his Sixtieth Birthday' in this volume). Many of these congresses and symposia have been published in the 'Falk Symposia' series by MTP Press. We asked hepatologists who took part in former Falk liver meetings to contribute to a one day symposium to celebrate Dr. Falk's anniversary. We were greatly gladdened by the spontaneous and unrestrained acceptance that we received from all sides. We wish to express our deep appreciation to all the speakers and moderators who travelled, at their own expense, from all parts of the world to Freiburg and who with their presentations, made the meeting a stimulating and refreshing event. The editors' thanks are also addressed to Mr. D. G. T. Bloomer and Mr. P. M. Lister from MTP Press for their valuable cooperation in preparing this volume for publication. This book testifies to the worldwide appreciation and gratitude held for Dr. Falk by the community of hepatologists. The Editors ix List of Contributors P. BACK K. F. A."

This is a new release of the original 1939 edition.

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