摘要
Chronic hepatitis B virus(CHB)infection-estimated to affect 290 million individuals-remains the leading global cause of liver-related mortality and a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)[1].Importantly,56% of liver cancers worldwide were attributable to CHB based on GLOBOCAN estimates from 2012[2].Current first-line therapies for CHB reduce but do not eliminate the risk of HCC,and for those fortunate enough to experience clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg),either spontaneous or on-treatment,the risk of HCC drops further but again persists[3,4].Additionally,unlike other etiologies of chronic liver disease,HCC develops in the absence of advanced fibrosis in up to 30% of HBsAg-positive patients[5].Taken together,these realities dictate that surveillance for HCC is paramount in nearly all circumstances for patients with CHB.
