Hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in 746 patients: long-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection.
OBJECTIVE
To define indications for percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis.


METHODS
Survival rates were determined in 746 patients who had undergone PEI (567 men, 179 women; mean age, 64.3 years; mean follow-up, 36 months).


RESULTS
In patients with Child A (n = 293), B (n = 149), or C (n = 20) cirrhosis and single HCCs 5 cm or smaller, the 3-5 year survival rate was 47%-79%, 29%-63%, and 0%-12%, respectively. In patients with Child A cirrhosis, it was 36%-68% for multiple HCCs (n = 121), 30%-53% for single HCCs larger than 5 cm (n = 28), and 0%-16% for advanced HCC (n = 16). Treatment was associated with a 1.7% rate of severe complications and a 0.1% mortality rate.


CONCLUSIONS
PEI proved safe, effective, and repeatable and had a low cost. Survival after PEI was comparable to that after surgery, probably because of a balancing between greater radicality of surgery and absence of early mortality and liver damage of PEI.
Livraghi
T
T
Department of Radiology, Ospedale Civile, Vimercate, Milan, Italy.
Giorgio
A
A
Marin
G
G
Salmi
A
A
de Sio
I
I
Bolondi
L
L
Pompili
M
M
Brunello
F
F
Lazzaroni
S
S
Torzilli
G
G
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000431:Ethanol