Comparison of resection, liver transplantation and transcatheter oily chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Resection and liver transplantation are currently considered as the most useful treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, transcatheter oily chemoembolization may be favourably compared with these two surgical treatments in patients with anatomically operable tumors.


METHODS
Between 1985 and 1991, 122 patients with an Okuda stage I tumor were hospitalized in two French hospitals. Among these patients, 33 remained untreated, 42 were treated by transcatheter oily chemoembolization, 30 by resection and 17 by liver transplantation. The four groups were closely comparable except for age, the patients in the two surgical groups being significantly younger. Moreover, the frequency of pTNM II tumor was significantly higher in the resection group.


RESULTS
The 5-year probability of survival was close to 45% in each of the three treated groups and was significantly higher than in the untreated group (0% at 4 years, p < 0.0001). The probability of cancer recurrence and/or metastatic dissemination was lower after transcatheter oily chemoembolization than after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, transcatheter oily chemoembolization seems comparable at 5 years with resection or transplantation for the treatment of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
Bronowicki
J P
JP
Centre de Chirurgie Viscérale et de Transplantation, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
Boudjema
K
K
Chone
L
L
Nisand
G
G
Bazin
C
C
Pflumio
F
F
Uhl
G
G
Wenger
J J
JJ
Jaeck
D
D
Boissel
P
P
Bigard
M A
MA
Gaucher
P
P
Vetter
D
D
Doffoel
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed