Prognostic risk factors of survival after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Surgical resection is a standard treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, but liver cirrhosis is known to be associated to a high tumor recurrence rate.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 55 consecutive patients (37 males, 18 females) suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma having undergone surgical resection. Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in 29 patients with normal liver (group A) and in 26 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) (group B). Patients were significantly older and at high-risk in Group B.


RESULTS
Radical liver resection was achieved in 98% (100% in group A; 96% in group B). Overall 2-month mortality was 2% (0% in group A; 4% in group B). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival was respectively 55% and 35%. However, the 5-year overall and disease-free survival was significantly better in Group A (71% and 59%) compared to Group B (37% and 6%) (p < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that age > 50 years, poor tumor differentiation and presence of satellite nodules were significant independent adverse predictive factors of overall and disease-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Resection of HCC is safe and effective with satisfactory overall and disease-free survival rates, except when underlying chronic liver disease and poor tumor differentiation are present.
Hubert
Catherine
C
Unit of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Abdominal Surgery and Transplantation Saint-Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Hippocrate Avenue, 10, Brussels, Belgium.
Sempoux
Christine
C
Rahier
Jacques
J
Horsmans
Yves
Y
Geubel
André
A
Van Beers
Bernard E
BE
Annet
Laurence
L
Zech
Francis
F
Leonard
Daniel
D
Gigot
Jean-François
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors