Hepatoma development during long term follow-up period of liver cirrhosis

An attempt was made to elucidate the pathogenesis of hepatoma. The material comprises 20 cases which were followed up more than 3 years after diagnosed liver cirrhosis and verified by autopsy. Hepatoma was found in 10 out of these 20 cases (50%). The follow-up period of these 10 cases with hepatoma was from 3 to 9.5 years (the mean value; 5.5 years). All 10 cases were not heavy drinkers, and showed liver cirrhosis of the mixed type by autopsy. HBsAG was positive in 6 out of 8 cases by RIA method (75%), and alpha-f was also detected in 5 of 7 cases by RIA method (70%). On the contrary, only 2 out of 10 cases without hepatoma were HBsAG positive (20%). The present results indicate that HBsAG positive liver cirrhosis of the mixed type is closely related to hepatoma in our country.