The role of liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The role of liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still debated. Overall survival is poor because of the high recurrence rate. Negative prognostic factors are the presence of large, multiple lesions, lymph node involvement, gross vascular invasion and extrahepatic metastases. On the other hand a long term survival (5 yrs), can be achieved in about 30 to 48% of transplanted patients. In the case of incidental tumours, the survival rate can be as high as 90%. Fibrolamellar HCC have a better prognosis than non fibrolamellar HCC. Due to the short supply of donor livers, OLT should be offered to those patients who have the highest probability of surviving.
Sama
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Istituto di Clinica Medica e Gastroenterologia, Università di Bologna, Italy.
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Barbara
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D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015996:Survival Rate