HCC
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Hepatocellular carcinoma |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
HCC has two meanings. It stands for Hepatocellular carcinoma (gastroenterology) or Hierarchical condition category (health insurance).
Meanings of HCC at a glance
| # | HCC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hepatocellular carcinoma | Medical › Gastroenterology |
| 2 | Hierarchical condition category | Medical › Health Insurance |
1. Hepatocellular carcinoma
Medical · Gastroenterology Abbreviations
Primary liver cancer arising from hepatocytes, usually in a cirrhotic liver or with chronic hepatitis B. At-risk patients are screened with ultrasound, often plus AFP, every six months, and diagnosis is frequently made on multiphase CT or MRI using LI-RADS criteria without biopsy.
Example: New 2.8 cm arterially enhancing lesion with washout, LI-RADS 5, consistent with HCC.
HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Treatment follows Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging and includes resection, ablation, transplant within the Milan criteria, chemoembolization and immunotherapy combinations such as atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. It is distinct from cholangiocarcinoma, which arises from bile duct cells.
2. Hierarchical condition category
Medical · Health Insurance Abbreviations
Groups of related diagnosis codes used in the CMS risk adjustment model to predict each Medicare Advantage enrollee's expected costs. Chronic conditions such as diabetes with complications, heart failure and COPD raise a member's risk score and the plan's payment.
Example: Document diabetes with neuropathy each year so the HCC is captured.
Diagnoses must be documented in a face-to-face encounter each calendar year to count. CMS phased in an updated model (version 28) from 2024 through 2026 that removed some codes considered prone to coding variation. Audits target "upcoding", the reporting of conditions not supported by the medical record. In oncology HCC means hepatocellular carcinoma.
Related abbreviations
More gastroenterology abbreviations
- GIST – Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
- GORD – Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- GU – Gastric ulcer
- H. pylori – Helicobacter pylori
- HE – Hepatic encephalopathy
- HH – Hiatal hernia
- HIDA – Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan
- HNPCC – Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
See all 85 gastroenterology abbreviations →
More health insurance abbreviations
- FPL – Federal poverty level
- FSA – Flexible spending account
- FWA – Fraud, waste and abuse
- GFE – Good faith estimate
- HCPCS – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
- HDHP – High-deductible health plan
- HEDIS – Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
- HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
See all 107 health insurance abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.