['To investigate whether (18)F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) uptake in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) correlates with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).', 'Forty-five patients with histologically confirmed HCC underwent whole-body (18)F-FDG PET examination. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and tumor-to-nontumor ratio of the SUV (SUVratio) were calculated, and the relationship between serum AFP and glucose metabolism in HCC was analyzed.', 'Of the 45 cases, the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes were clearly displayed on PET images in 43 cases and the well-differentiated tumors were shown negative in the other 2 cases. A linear correlation of the AFP with SUV (r=0.426, P<0.05) and SUVratio (r=0.532, P<0.001) was noted.'] Does [ 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma on positron emission tomography correlate with alpha-fetoprotein ]?