Prophylactic chemolipiodolization for postoperative hepatoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of prophylactic chemolipiodolization following hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was studied.


METHODS
Forty-four of 67 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy between 1980 and 1997 were divided into two groups: group A (n = 21), in which prophylactic chemolipiodolization was performed during postoperative follow-up (2.4 times on average using a 39 mg mean dose of epirubicin or doxorubicin); and group B (n = 23), without prophylactic chemolipiodolization. The clinicopathological background and patient survival were compared retrospectively.


RESULTS
There were no differences in the clinicopathological background between the two groups. Multiple intrahepatic recurrence was frequently observed in group B (P < 0.02). The recurrence-free survival rates in group A (54.4% and 31.1% at 3 and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher than those in group B (15.7% and 7.9%, respectively). The survival rates of group A (95.2% and 80.4% at 3 and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher than those in group B (40.1% and 22.9%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that postoperative prophylactic chemolipiodolization can be an effective treatment in reducing intrahepatic recurrence and may prolong survival for hepatocellular carcinoma patients following hepatic resection.
Shimoda
M
M
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0192, Japan. Shimoda9@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Bando
T
T
Nagata
T
T
Shirosaki
I
I
Sakamoto
T
T
Tsukada
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004655:Emulsions; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004655:Emulsions; D015251:Epirubicin; D007459:Iodized Oil; D004317:Doxorubicin