Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in this disease state are significantly higher in South India than in North India. Because data on serologic studies do not project the actual association between the two parameters, this study was undertaken.
Methods: The prevalence of HBV genes in HCC patients was studied using nonisotopic in situ hybridization.