Question

A 52-year-old Aboriginal man from a regional town has chronic hepatitis B infection without cirrhosis. He is HBsAg positive with a high viral load and no current antiviral therapy. According to recent Australian recommendations, what is the most appropriate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance strategy for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Six-monthly liver ultrasound with or without alpha-fetoprotein measurement

Answer

No surveillance is needed until he develops cirrhosis

Answer

Annual abdominal ultrasound only

Answer

CT scan of the liver every 3 years

Answer

Surveillance only if he develops symptoms such as weight loss or jaundice

Practice question