AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Many professional bodies, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases [18], the European Association for the Study of the Liver [19], and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver [20] have recommended ultrasound with or without the biomarker Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at 6-month intervals as a HCC surveillance strategy to improve the early detection of HCC.