<P> Viral infection with either hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) or Hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) is the chief cause of liver cancer in the world today , accounting for 80 % of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) . The viruses cause HCC because massive inflammation , fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis occurs within the liver . HCC usually arises after cirrhosis , with an annual incidence of 1.7 % in cirrhotic HCV - infected individuals . Around 5 - 10 % of individuals that become infected with HBV become chronic carriers , and around 30 % of these acquire chronic liver disease , which can lead to HCC . HBV infection is also linked to cholangiocarcinoma . The role of viruses other than HCV or HBV in liver cancer is much less clear , although there is some evidence that co-infection of HBV and hepatitis D virus may increase the risk of HCC . </P>
which type of hepatitis is responsible for 50 to 76 of all patients with liver cancer
hepatitis C Hepatitis B