Haga H, et al. - Given the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B (HBV/B) and C (HBV/C) among Japanese patients with hepatitis, researchers compared hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence in HBV/B- or HBV/C-infected patients. Analyzing a total of 241 patients among 295 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive carriers, they identified HBV genotype A in 1% (4/295), B in 61% (179/295), C in 37% (110/295) and D in 1% (2/295) patients; 96% of HBV/B were noted to be infected with subgenotype Bj. Observations revealed HCC development in HBV/B-infected patients later in life, especially among the elderly with advanced fibrosis. However, the two genotypes showed no differences in the incidence of HCC development rates in the long term.