title: Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although liver resection is now a safe procedure, its role for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis remains controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared the results of liver resection for HCC in patients with cirrhosis over two time intervals. One hundred and sixty-one patients had resection during period 1 (1991-1996) and 265 in period 2 (1997-2002). Early and long-term results after liver resection in the two periods were compared, and clinicopathological characteristics that influenced survival were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumour size was smaller, indocyanine green retention rate was higher, patients were older and a greater proportion of patients were asymptomatic in period 2 than period 1. Operative blood loss, need for blood transfusion, operative mortality rate, postoperative hospital stay and total hospital costs were significantly reduced in period 2. The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 28.2 and 33.9 per cent in periods 1 and 2 respectively (P = 0.042), and 5-year overall survival rates were 45.9 and 61.2 per cent (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified serum alpha-fetoprotein level, need for blood transfusion and Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum tumour node metastasis stage as independent determinants of disease-free and overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of liver resection for HCC in patients with cirrhosis improved over time. Liver resection remains a good treatment option in selected patients with HCC arising from a cirrhotic liver.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Anaesthesiology and Pathology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Section 5, 160 Chung-Kang Road, Taichung, Taipei, Taiwan. he@vghtc.gov.tw
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: S-B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: W-M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: J-T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T-J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: F-K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: P'eng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome