title: [Cryohepatectomy for liver cancer: preliminary evaluation of reducing postoperative recurrence].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether cryohepatectomy is potentially beneficial in reducing the recurrence and prolonging survival for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 84 patients who underwent cryohepatectomy, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) followed by the resection of the frozen tumor by conventional technique, for HCC and were closely follow-up after surgery. Recurrence and survival rates were calculated by the life-table method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative course of cryohepatectomy in all of the 84 patients was uneventful, there being no operative mortality or severe complications. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after cryohepatectomy were 98.7%, 83.9% and 64.0%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence rates after cryohepatectomy were 15.1%, 30.1% and 39.0%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryohepatectomy for HCC is a safe procedure and may be potentially beneficial in reducing recurrence and prolonging survival. More time is needed to further define whether this procedure will improve long-term survival as compared with conventional resection.
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. xdzhou2000@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xin-da
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhao-you
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zeng-chen
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhi-quan
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bo-heng
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate