Predictable factors for estimating prognosis of patients after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Although many studies have been concerned with a clarification of the relation between various clinicopathologic factors and the prognosis of operated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), few studies have focused on the prognostic predictability of mitotic index and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV).


METHODS
One hundred forty cases of HCC with hepatic resection were observed from 1 to 11 years, and the relationship among various clinicopathologic factors, including the mitotic index and anti-HCV, and prognosis was evaluated.


RESULTS
Age at the time of operation, positive results for hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-HCV, accompanying cirrhosis, and the degree of tumor necrosis due to transarterial embolization did not influence the prognosis significantly. Patients with hepatitis C virus-related cases had a better prognosis than patients with hepatitis B-related cases. Patients with a single and small carcinoma smaller than 2 cm had a significantly better prognosis than those who had larger and/or multiple tumors. A better prognosis also was observed in the carcinomas with no histologic invasion into portal vein branches, low Edmondson grades, and low mitotic activities when compared with the counterpart of each group. Among these factors, the mitotic index was correlated best with prognosis in the current study.


CONCLUSIONS
The examination of mitotic index was quite simple, and the index was a helpful factor in predicting prognosis.
Haratake
J
J
Department of Pathology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Takeda
S
S
Kasai
T
T
Nakano
S
S
Tokui
N
N
D000367:Age Factors; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens