Hepatocellular carcinoma- etiologic considerations: a review of the literature

There are an estimated 120 million hepatitis B virus carriers worldwide. More than 200,000 of these are in the United States. A higher incidence of active hepatitis B virus infection has been observed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma than in controls, in all geographical regions. This paper reviews the world literature on the relationship of hepatitis B virus to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.