- Consecutive patients with HCC and patients with HBV & HCV that were age, gender, and race/ethnicity matched to the HCC patients were enrolled from the Liver Clinic during this period. The diagnosis of HCC was made by histopathology, and if histopathology was not available by two imaging modalities (ultrasound [US], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], or computed tomography) showing a vascular enhancing mass >2cm. HBV infection status was based on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HCV infection status was based on serum HCV antibody and HCV-RNA positive.