Surveillance and HCC diagnosis

Patients were monitored after achieving SVR for 3–4 months and underwent ultrasonography plus laboratory testing, which evaluated complete blood cell count, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, AFP, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP). In addition, patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging once a year. In cases with a nodular lesion detected using ultrasonography or elevated levels of a tumor maker, the patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography. The imaging results were evaluated for the presence of HCC, which was radiologically diagnosed based on typical hemodynamic signs of classical HCC (considerable intensification during the arterial phase followed by a washout with corona-like peripheral enhancement in the equilibrium phase).