Development of hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient 13 years after sustained virological response to interferon against chronic hepatitis C: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Although several recent reports have shown that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) even after having a sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon (IFN) therapy, it is not common for HCC to develop more than 10 years after SVR.


METHODS
A 73-year-old Japanese man with CH-C who achieved SVR to IFN therapy 13 years ago was admitted into our hospital because of huge multiple liver tumors along with marked elevation of the tumor markers. Several diagnostic modalities strongly suggested HCC, and we performed histopathological examination. After confirming the diagnosis as well-differentiated HCC, we successfully treated these tumors with intensive combination therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
Our report highlights the need for careful follow-up for more than 10 years even if the patients with CH-C achieve SVR to IFN therapy.
Mashitani
Tsuyoshi
T
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho 840, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan. yoshijih@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Yoshiji
Hitoshi
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Yamazaki
Masaharu
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Ikenaka
Yasuhide
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Noguchi
Ryuichi
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Ishikawa
Masatoshi
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Kawaratani
Hideto
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Matsuo
Norihide
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Uemura
Masahito
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Yamao
Junichi
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Fujimoto
Masao
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Mitoro
Akira
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Toyohara
Masahisa
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Yoshida
Motoyuki
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Sawai
Masayoshi
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Morioka
Chie
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Tsujimoto
Tatsuhiro
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Kitade
Mitsuteru
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Kaji
Kosuke
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Aihara
Yosuke
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Fukui
Hiroshi
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