AFP and hepatitis B virus infection: We report a patient with underlying hepatitis B virus infection and hepatoid adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma.<h4>Case presentation</h4>We present the case of a 56-year-old Chinese female with underlying hepatitis B virus infection, who was found to have multiple hepatic tumors by abdominal ultrasound and an elevated level of serum alpha-fetoprotein.