Recurrence patterns after hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma: implication of Milan criteria utilization.
BACKGROUND
Bridge hepatectomy followed by salvage liver transplantation has been proposed for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and preserved liver function.


METHODS
Data were prospectively collected for 501 consecutive patients who underwent curative primary hepatectomy for HCC between 1990 and 2006. Patient survival, disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence patterns, and risk factors were analyzed in patients classified according to the Milan criteria.


RESULTS
Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of whether their disease was within the Milan criteria (group 1, n = 321) or not (group 2, n = 180). Group 1 patient survival and DFS rates were 73.6% and 40.6% at 5 years. Recurrence was observed in 160 group 1 patients (49.8%); in 42 (26.3%) of these 160 patients, the recurrence exceeded the Milan criteria. No recurrence was noted in 145 group 1 patients (45.2%). Group 2 patient survival and DFS rates were 52.2% and 23.2%, respectively, at 5 years. Recurrence was noted in 116 patients (64.4%); recurrence in 58 (50.0%) of these patients was within the Milan criteria. In group 2, no recurrence was noted in 55 patients (30.6%). In group 1, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes of >15%, nonanatomical resection, and multiple tumors were statistically significant risk factors for survival; 10-year patient survival was 78.5% for patients with no risk factors and 64.9% for patients with a single risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The Milan criteria should be used to recommend hepatectomy for patients with HCC; however, it is important to consider the high recurrence rate after hepatectomy and the possible requirement of salvage transplantation.
Kamiyama
Toshiya
T
Department of General Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. t-kamiya@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Nakanishi
Kazuaki
K
Yokoo
Hideki
H
Kamachi
Hirofumi
H
Tahara
Munenori
M
Suzuki
Tomomi
T
Shimamura
Tsuyoshi
T
Furukawa
Hiroyuki
H
Matsushita
Michiaki
M
Todo
Satoru
S
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018579:Patient Selection; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis