Occurrence of HCC in asymptomatic HCV-related chronic hepatitis.

Patients with persistently normal ALT affected with HCV-related chronic hepatitis exist. The natural history of liver disease in these patients was demonstrated to be very slow and progression to cirrhosis likely absent. The case we report describes the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a patient with persistently normal ALT affected with mild chronic hepatitis. This observation suggests that asymptomatic carriers of HCV may develop HCC that is not related to underlying liver cirrhosis.