Resection of peritoneal implantation from hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Peritoneal implantation is a rare presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This article presents the clinical features and surgical outcomes of 16 patients with HCC in whom isolated peritoneal implantation from HCC was found and who underwent surgical resection.


METHODS
From 1988 to 2000, 16 patients with HCC after hepatic resection who underwent resection of peritoneal implantation of HCC were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Four hundred sixty-five of 749 patients (62.1%) had recurrence of HCC after hepatic resection. Sixteen (3.4%) developed isolated peritoneal implantation and underwent resection. During the detection of the peritoneal implantation, the alfa fetoprotein level was increased in 13 of these 16 patients. Five of 15 patients had a peritoneal mass discovered by ultrasonography, and 14 of 15 patients had a mass discovered by computed tomography. The follow-up period ranged from 2.1 to 81.6 months (median, 16 months). The median disease-free and overall survivals of the 16 patients were 7.89 and 15.98 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal implantation occurs infrequently in posthepatectomy patients. Increased alfa fetoprotein values after hepatic resection should suggest recurrence of HCC. Computed tomography is superior to ultrasonography in detection of peritoneal implantation from HCC. Surgical resection of peritoneal implantation from HCC might prolong survival in selected patients.
Yeh
Chun-Nan
CN
Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chen
Miin-Fu
MF
Jeng
Long-Bin
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed