Hepatitis B surface antigen positive hepatocellular carcinoma in children: Report of a case and review of the literature

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Abstract
This report describes a case of adult type hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of a ten‐year‐old boy. The liver showed no cirrhosis but hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs‐antigen) was demonstrated in the nonneoplastic liver cells. Serological examination of his family revealed positive HBs‐antigen of the patient's mother suggesting familial transmission to the patient in his early life. Histologic demonstration of HBs‐antigen was performed on 36 adult HCC cases and 14 childhood cases including three HCC and eleven hepatoblastoma. HBs‐antigen was demonstrated in 12 adult cases, one of which showed no cirrhosis. All childhood cases except for the one presented here showed no HBs‐antigen. Review of the literature disclosed four other cases of HBs‐antigen positive HCC in children. The present case is unique in that the non‐neoplastic portion of the liver showed neither hepatitic nor cirrhotic manifestations. These HBs‐antigen positive HCC in childhood may imply the significant relationship between HB virus and HCC not only in adult but also in childhood.