title: Clinicopathologic features and factors related to survival of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection.
abstract: Hepatic resection for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) offers patients a chance of cure but is associated with a significant tumor recurrence rate. We characterized 145 resected small HCCs and defined patients who would most benefit from hepatic resection. A retrospective study was conducted of 485 HCC patients who had undergone curative resection. The clinical features and survival rates of patients with HCCs </= 3 cm (group 1, n = 145) were compared with those of patients with HCCs > 3 cm (group 2, n = 340). Compared with group 2 patients, group 1 had worse liver function, a higher frequency of hepatitis C infection, and a lower alpha-fetoprotein level. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates of group 1 were better than those of group 2 (82%, 59%, and 42% vs. 56%, 39%, and 31%, respectively) ( p < 0.001). From the sixth postoperative year onward, the proportions of disease-free survivors were not significantly different between the two groups (32% vs. 31%). By multivariate analysis, factors influencing small-HCC patients' outcomes were tumor centrally located ( p = 0.003), indocyanine green retention rate > 10% ( p = 0.017), and albumin level < 3.7 g/dl ( p = 0.004). A clinical risk scoring system incorporating these factors correlated closely with the patients' outcomes and it may be used to select patients who would most benefit from hepatic resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Shih-pai, Taipei 217, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jui-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gar-Yang
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Wing-Yiu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Shyh-Haw
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.forename: Kuang-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome