title: Risk factors of recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to explore the potential risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after curative resection of primary HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a hospital-based retrospective cohort study. The authors analyzed the medical records of all the subjects with HCC initially treated by hepatic resection at a medical center in Taiwan from 1995 to 2006. In all, 222 subjects were enrolled in this study. The total observational period was 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 172 men (77.5%) and 50 women (22.5%). The mean age was 57.0 ± 13.7 years (range, 15-79 years). Among 222 subjects, the overall recurrence rates were 28.8% (64/222), 42.3% (94/222) and 47.7% (106/222) at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that tumor size ≥ 5 cm [odds ratio (OR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27-4.17], liver cirrhosis (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18-3.79) and preoperative aspartate aminotransferase level ≥ 34 IU/L (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.01-4.04) were independent risk factors of HCC recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who have larger tumor size, liver cirrhosis and higher preoperative aspartate aminotransferase level should be carefully followed up because they are at high risk of HCC recurrence postoperatively.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung County, Taiwan.
authors: Kuan-Fu
authors: KF
authors: Liao
authors: Shih-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Lai
authors: Chung-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Lin
authors: Chi-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Huang
authors: Yi-Ying
authors: YY
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases