title: [Evaluation of prognosis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma treated from 1988 to 2002 at Department of Medicine III, Kyushu University Hospital].
abstract: From a series of 452 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted to the department of Medicine III, Kyushu University Hospital between January 1988 and December 2002, patients were evaluated, who met the following criteria: (a) the patients had not been diagnosed with HCC previously, (b) they had a solitary HCC less than 4 cm in diameter, or had fewer than three tumors with diameters less than 3 cm, and (c) patients with extrahepatic metastasis or vessel invasion were excluded. Five-year survival was more than 60%, and there were no significant differences in survival among the periods of 1988 - 1989, 1990 - 1994, and 1995 - 2002. There were significant differences in survival among patients with tumors of diameters < 2 cm (80%), 2 - 3 cm (60%), 3 < (40%) cm, and among those with tumor numbers of 1 (70%), 2 (50 %), 3 - 4 tumors (30%). The study also analyzed variables that could influence prognosis or recurrence of HCC, including tumor size and number, parameters of hepatic function, combined therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and local recurrence. Multivariate regression analysis showed that indocyanine green retention at 15 min serum albumin level, and local recurrence were significant independent predictors of survival, and that serum albumin and alanine aminotransferase levels were significant independent predictors of recurrence. In conclusion, achieving complete necrosis of HCC at first treatment to prevent local recurrence is important for improving the prognosis of patients with HCC. In addition, ameliorating hepatitis, by antiviral treatment for example, to maintain hepatic function is also important for improving both the prognosis and the prevention of the recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichirou
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamuta
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotoh
authors.forename: Shusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morizono
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Munechika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enjoji
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007564:Japan; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000431:Ethanol