[A resectable case of juvenile hepatocellular carcinoma in an asymptomatic HBV carrier]

A 28-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in October 1983 as he was found to have HBs-antigenemia at the time of blood donation. Since he had no symptoms and showed normal liver function, HBeAg(-), HBeAb (+) and HBcAb 87% (200x), he was diagnosed as an asymptomatic HBV-carrier. Unexpectedly, high serum AFP (13,500 ng/ml) was detected. Subsequently, computed tomography, angiography and ultrasonography demonstrated a tumor, 4.5 X 4.0 cm in diameter, in the left lobe of the liver. On Feb. 24, 1984, the tumor was radically resected. The postoperative course was excellent. This case suggested the relationship between hepatoma and asymptomatic HBV carriers and the importance of screening hepatoma patients to detect asymptomatic carriers.