Resected cases of hepatocellular carcinoma detected after interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Background/Aims: Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellul ar carcinoma in patients infected with hepatitis C virus. However, hepatoce llular carcinoma was detected after interferon therapy in some patients. Methodology: Of the 167 patients who underwent liver resection for hepatiti s C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma between 1993 and September 1998, the carcinoma was detected after interferon therapy in 11 patients. The cl inicopathologic findings in these 11 patients were studied. Results: The response to interferon was complete (n=4), partial (n=4), or n o response (n=3). Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected 2 months to 3 years 9 months, after interferon therapy. The interval period from the end of in terferon therapy to the detection of the carcinoma were significantly corre lated with the longest diameter of the main tumor (P=0.0043), indicating th at most carcinomas have already developed before the end of interferon ther apy. In one non-responder, multicentric carcinogenesis occurred after liver resection for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Another patient with advan ced hepatocellular carcinoma died of the recurrence. Conclusions: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma must be performed ev en in patients successfully treated with interferon because occult carcinom a may have developed before or during the therapy.