Sitbounlang P. auteur aut IRD Marchio A. auteur aut IRD Deharo Eric auteur aut IRD Paboriboune P. auteur aut IRD Pineau P. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Laos is a landlocked country in South East Asia, ranking fifth for primary liver cancer incidence worldwide. Risk factors that might explain this worrying situation are poorly known. We conducted a review of the literature concerning the etiologies of terminal liver diseases in Laos. A double infectious burden with hepatitis B and C viruses and the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini seems to be the main cause of the high liver cancer incidence. Moreover, it was also suggested that mutagenic substances frequently found in tobacco, alcoholic beverages, fermented fish, and mold-contaminated cereals or nuts, which are all substances heavily consumed by Lao people, lead to the accumulation of DNA mutations in the liver cell genome causing tumor processes. However, the respective proportions of liver cancer cases attributable to each category of infections and substances consumed, as well as the histological nature of the neoplasia are still not precisely documented in Laos. The international medical and scientific communities as well as public health stakeholders should urgently consider the alarming situation of liver health in Laos to stimulate both research and subsequent implementation of prevention policies. specialized LAOS CAMBODGE MYANMAR THAILANDE VIET NAM CHINE YUNNAN 050MEDECI 1 1 49-59 2021 2673-4389 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086260 10.3390/livers1010005 2673-4389 [F B010086260] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086260 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-11/010086260.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2022-10-19 2025-02-24 fdi:010086260 fre