Rapid growth of hepatocellular carcinoma after or during interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C: report of three cases.

We report herein the cases of three patients in whom marked rapid growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) became evident after or during interferon (IFN) treatment for chronic hepatitis C. The HCC tumors were 10, 4.7, and 3.1 cm in size, and were found 7 months, 10 weeks, and 10 weeks after the initiation of IFN, respectively, in cases 1, 2, and 3. The clinical courses of these three patients suggest that the progression of HCC was more rapid during the IFN treatment period. Thus, we propose that abdominal ultrasonic (US) examination should be performed monthly in patients with chronic hepatitis who undergo IFN treatment.