Current surgical treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma in North America.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor that often occurs in the setting of chronic liver disease. Many patients do not initially manifest any symptoms of HCC and present late when cure with surgical resection or transplantation is no longer possible. For this reason, patients at high risk for developing HCC are subjected to frequent screening processes. The surgical management of HCC is complex and requires an inter-disciplinary approach. Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice for HCC in patients without cirrhosis and is indicated in some patients with early cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). Liver transplantation has emerged in the past decade as the standard of care for patients with cirrhosis and HCC meeting Milan criteria and in select patients with HCC beyond Milan criteria. Loco-regional therapy with transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial embolization, radiofrequency ablation and other similar local treatments can be used as neo-adjuvant therapy to downstage HCC to within Milan criteria or as a bridge to transplantation in patients on transplant wait list.
Adeel S Khan, Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Aurora Bay Care Medical Center, Greenbay, WI 54311, United States.
Adeel S
AS
Khan
Adeel S Khan, Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Aurora Bay Care Medical Center, Greenbay, WI 54311, United States.
Kathryn J
KJ
Fowler
Adeel S Khan, Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Aurora Bay Care Medical Center, Greenbay, WI 54311, United States.
William C
WC
Chapman
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009656:North America; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists
Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver resection; Liver transplantation; Radiofrequency ablation; Transarterial chemoembolization