Development of small hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C after 77 months of a sustained and complete response to interferon therapy
Takahiro Yamaura,
Akihiro Matsumoto, Akinori Rokuhara, Tetuya Ichijo, Ehji Tanaka,
Kazuhiro Hanazaki,
Shoji Kajikawa,
Kendo Kiyosawa,
Takahiro Yamaura
Department of Gastroenterology, Maruko Central Hospital,
Second Department of Internal Medicine and
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ehji Tanaka
Second Department of Internal Medicine and
Dr E Tanaka, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorKazuhiro Hanazaki
Second Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorShoji Kajikawa
Second Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorTakahiro Yamaura,
Akihiro Matsumoto, Akinori Rokuhara, Tetuya Ichijo, Ehji Tanaka,
Kazuhiro Hanazaki,
Shoji Kajikawa,
Kendo Kiyosawa,
Takahiro Yamaura
Department of Gastroenterology, Maruko Central Hospital,
Second Department of Internal Medicine and
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ehji Tanaka
Second Department of Internal Medicine and
Dr E Tanaka, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorKazuhiro Hanazaki
Second Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorShoji Kajikawa
Second Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Abstract We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that developed 77 months following sustained and complete response to interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C. A 67-year-old Japanese woman presented with a small mass in the liver that was diagnosed as HCC, 77 months after having completed IFN therapy and having shown a complete response to the therapy with sustained normalization of serum aminotransferases and eradication of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C virus RNA was also not detected in the resected tumorous and non-tumorous liver tissues by polymerase chain reaction. This suggests that all patients with chronic HCV infection should be followed closely for as long as possible for the potential development of HCC, even after a complete and sustained response to IFN treatment.
© 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
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