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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2013; 19(47): 8822-8830
Published online Dec 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i47.8822
Published online Dec 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i47.8822
Hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients under antiviral therapy
John Vlachogiannakos, George Papatheodoridis, Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Vlachogiannakos J collected the data and wrote the initial draft; Papatheodoridis G reviewed the data, revised and finalized the paper.
Correspondence to: George Papatheodoridis, MD, Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Agiou Thoma 17, 11527 Athens, Greece. gepapath@med.uoa.gr
Telephone: +30-210-7456504 Fax: +30-210-7462601
Received: August 29, 2013
Revised: October 25, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 21, 2013
Revised: October 25, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 21, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Antiviral therapy reduces but does not eliminate the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B patients with or without cirrhosis. The reduction of the HCC incidence under a high genetic barrier nucleos(t)ide analogue is higher in the vast majority of patients who will achieve virological remission compared to those who may maintain detectable viral replication. In current clinical practice, however, patients at increased baseline HCC risk should continue to undergo HCC surveillance according to the existing recommendations even if they have achieved complete long-term inhibition of viral replication and improvements in liver histology.