Hepatitis B and C: Risk of Liver Cancer
Topic Overview
People who are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) virus may develop a chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis . The damage that results increases the risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
If you have chronic HBV infection:
- You may develop liver cancer even if you do not have cirrhosis. But most people who have HBV and liver cancer also have cirrhosis.
- Receiving antiviral therapy to treat chronic HBV infection may lower your risk for developing liver cancer.
If you have chronic HCV infection:
- The strain (genotype) of HCV infection does not appear to affect your risk for developing liver cancer.
- You are not at significant risk of developing cancer unless you also already have cirrhosis.
- You are at greatly increased risk of liver cancer if you have alcohol-related cirrhosis in addition to hepatitis.
- Receiving antiviral therapy to treat chronic HCV infection may lower your risk for developing liver cancer.
Screening with ultrasound of the liver, liver function tests, and blood tests (including alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]) every 6 to 12 months is recommended for people at risk of liver cancer.
Health Tools
Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Related Information
Credits
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
W. Thomas London MD - Hepatology
- Top of the page
-
Next Section:
Health Tools
-
Previous Section:
Topic Overview - Top of the page
-
Next Section:
Related Information
-
Previous Section:
Health Tools - Top of the page
-
Next Section:
Credits
-
Previous Section:
Related Information - Top of the page
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & W. Thomas London MD - Hepatology