Hydrocephalus upon presentation is common in our TBM patients. This may be a poor prognostic marker associated with severe TBM and a higher risk of stroke.

SUMMARYBackground: Hepatitis B virus infection is an important aetiological factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clusters of hepatocellular carcinoma have been observed in families infected with hepatitis B virus. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with familial hepatitis B virus in Hong Kong. Methods: Hepatitis B virus patients were screened for familial hepatocellular carcinoma using a standardized questionnaire. The clinical features of patients with familial hepatocellular carcinoma were compared with those of 118 patients with sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma attending the clinic during the same period. Results: A total of 5080 patients were interviewed. Validation of the questionnaire indicated that the reliab-

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