Resection of peritoneal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether resection of peritoneal metastases arising from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a role to play in the management of the disease.


METHODS
Resections of peritoneal metastases from HCC were performed in 6 patients. The survival of the patients was evaluated in relation to feature of primary liver tumor, number of peritoneal metastases and period between hepatectomy and resection of peritoneal metastases.


RESULTS
Two patients had peritoneal metastases at the time of hepatectomy for HCC, their resection being carried out synchronously. In the other 4 patients, peritoneal metastases became evident between 6 and 34 months (mean: 18) after hepatectomy; resection was performed at the time of presentation of the metastases. Patient survival after resection of the peritoneal metastases ranged from 3-31 months. The 4 patients who survived for more than 1 year had the following features: 1) a small number of metastatic nodules (= or < 4); 2) low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values (mean: 205 ng/ml); and, (3) metachronous occurrence of the peritoneal metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Resection of peritoneal metastases arising from HCC may be of value in improving patient survival.
Nakayama
H
H
Department of Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Takayama
T
T
Makuuchi
M
M
Yamasaki
S
S
Kosuge
T
T
Shimada
K
K
Yamamoto
J
J
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome