18. Should someone with chronic hepatitis B be screened for liver cancer?

Screening should be considered in all carriers. We know that liver cancer begins as a single lesion in most cases and the doubling time is wide, unfortunately, but it averages 6 months. That’s why the screening has been recommended every 6 months, based on this average doubling time. The alpha fetoprotein is kind of a minimal test although it has a lot of limitations and therefore is alpha fetoprotein plus ultrasound is the standard in anybody with cirrhosis, any positive family history and beyond a certain age. Many of us start earlier anyway.