[Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for postoperative residual tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To understand and analyze the survival and prognostic factors of postoperative residual tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.


METHODS
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed in 74 patients who were identified as having residual lesions by ultrasonography, hepatic arterial angiography or enhanced computed tomography about two months after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival and Cox regression model for prognostic factors.


RESULTS
The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 78.0%, 57.6%, 37.0%, with a median survival of 33 months. Univariate analysis indicated that a primary tumor over > 5 cm in diameter, vascular involvement by the primary tumor and TNM extent of the residual lesion were important factors indicating a bad prognosis, where as the combination of other treatment methods such as percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), and/or radiotherapy indicated a better prognosis. However, multivariate analysis showed that vascular involvement by the primary tumor and the other combined local treatments were independent factors of prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is effective in treating the postoperative residual tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma. Further improvement is observed if combined with other local therapies such as percutaneous ethanol injection or radiotherapy.
Ren
Z
Z
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan Univesity, Shanghai 200032, China.
Lin
Z
Z
Ye
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome