Multimodal therapy of hepatocarcinoma: personal experience on 90 cases.
OBJECTIVE
In recent years, surgical and non-surgical options have been developed in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. We review our personal series from 1995-1999, in order to assess the choice of treatment.


METHODS
Of 90 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma observed in the years 1995-1999, 15 underwent curative resective surgery; in 42 cases TAE, PEI or RITA were utilized (9 of them as multimodal therapy). In the remaining 33 patients any kind of therapy was scheduled.


RESULTS
The mean survival of the 15 resected patients was 18 months, non-statistically better than RITA survival, compared by Log-Rank test. Perioperative mortality calculated in all procedures was 5.2% (2 pts surgery, 1 pt TAE).


CONCLUSIONS
The high percentage of not treated hepatocellular carcinomas in our series is generally due to large tumor size diagnosed in advanced Child's stage. PEI, TAE and RITA have to be considered effective and safe for palliation for HCCs. However, surgical resection represents the curative therapy in selected cirrhotic patients affected by HCC.
Puleo
S
S
Ia Clinica Chirurgica, Università di Catania, Italy.
Lombardo
R
R
Li Destri
G
G
Azzarello
G
G
Rinzivillo
C
C
Di Carlo
I
I
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate
D000431:Ethanol