title: Efficacy of surgical resection in management of isolated extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the benefit of surgical excision for patients with extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 140 patients with pathologically proven extrahepatic metastases of HCC and evaluated the outcomes of those who had undergone surgical resection (SR) for extrahepatic metastatic lesions. Prognoses made on the basis of extrahepatic metastatic sites were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rates of patients who underwent SR of extrahepatic metastases were significantly better than those of patients who did not receive SR. For the SR group, 1- and 3-year survival rates were 24% and 7%, respectively, while for the non-resection group, the survival rates were 8% and 0%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Survival rates related to metastatic sites were also significantly superior after SR of extrahepatic metastases: median survivals were 32 mo with lung metastasis, 10 mo with bone metastasis, 6.1 mo with brain metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SR can provide survival benefits for patients with 1 or 2 isolated extrahepatic metastases and who concurrently exhibit good hepatic functional reserve and general performance status as well as successful treatment of intrahepatic HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Kun-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ting-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chen-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tse-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Miin-Fu
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome