Viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the more common internal malignancies worldwide and is responsible for over 1 million deaths annually. The causative relationship between chronic hepatitis B and HCC is now beyond doubt, and it is likely that the attributable risk of HCC due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is similar to or greater than that for hepatitis B in some countries. The prospects for preventing HCC with the use of a vaccine against HBV appear excellent. Until a vaccine against HCV becomes available, prevention of HCV-related HCC is predominantly dependent on a reduction in transfusion-associated disease.