Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of malignancy after renal transplantation in Asia, where hepatitis B virus infection is endemic. Early detection and resection are the key to successful treatment because the mortality rate for HCC is high. The value of alpha-fetoprotein monitoring in the early detection of HCC in renal transplant recipients has not been reported before. We describe 2 patients who had successful resection of HCC following early diagnosis by alpha-fetoprotein monitoring. The epidemiology of post-transplant HCC in various parts of the world and its pathogenesis are discussed.
Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.