Hepatic Resection For Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma Research Articles

Effectiveness of Anatomical Resection for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Propensity Score–Matched Analysis of a Multi-institutional Database

BackgroundThe superiority of outcomes associated with anatomical resection (AR) versus those associated with non-anatomical resection (NAR) remains controversial in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of AR on therapeutic outcomes of patients with small HCCs (≤ 5 cm), using propensity score–matched (PSM) analysis. MethodsA total of 195 patients who had undergone elective hepatic resection for small HCCs (≤ 5 cm) were included in this study. We conducted PSM analysis for baseline characteristics (age, sex, hepatitis virus status, retention rate of indocyanine green at 15 min, and Child-Pugh grade), preoperative serum α-fetoprotein, and tumor characteristics (tumor size, tumor number, portal vein invasion, and surgical margin status) to eliminate potential selection bias. The prognostic significance of AR on the disease-free and overall survival was analyzed in patients selected by PSM analysis. ResultsApplying PSM analysis, the patients were divided into PSM-AR (N = 66) and PSM-NAR (N = 66) groups. Disease-free survival was significantly better in the PSM-AR group than that of the PSM-NAR group (P = 0.018), while there was no significant difference in the overall survival between the PSM-AR and PSM-NAR groups (P = 0.292). The univariate HRs of the PSM-AR group were 0.55 (95% CI, 0.33–0.90) for disease-free survival and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.24–1.53) for overall survival, respectively. Remnant liver recurrence was significantly lower in the AR group (P = 0.014). ConclusionsAR may improve the disease-free survival in HCC patients with tumors of ≤5 cm diameter.

Patients with early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma have poor prognosis

Early recurrence (ER) after hepatic resection (HR) is a poor prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to identify the clinicopathological features, outcomes, and risk factors for ER after HR for small HCC in order to clarify the reasons why ER is a worse recurrence pattern. We retrospectively examined 130 patients who underwent HR for small HCC (≤30 mm). Recurrence was classified into ER (<2 years) and late recurrence (LR) (≥2 years). The clinicopathological features, outcomes, and risk factors for ER were analyzed by multivariate analysis. ER was observed in 39 patients (30.0%). The survival rate of the ER group was significantly lower than that of the LR group (P<0.005), and ER was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival (P=0.0001). The ER group had a significantly higher frequency (P=0.0039) and shorter interval (P=0.027) of development to carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria (DBMC) compared with the LR group, and ER was an independent risk factor for DBMC (P<0.0001). Multi-nodularity, non-simple nodular type, and microvascular invasion were independent predictors for ER (P=0.012, 0.010, and 0.019, respectively). ER was a highly malignant recurrence pattern associated with DBMC and subsequent poor survival after HR for small HCC. Multi-nodularity, non-simple nodular type, and microvascular invasion predict ER, and taking these factors into consideration may be useful for the decision of the treatment strategy for small HCC after HR.

Preoperative Fluorine 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

This study aimed to assess the value of preoperative fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We retrospectively examined 60 patients who received F-FDG PET-CT prior to hepatic resection for small HCC (≤30 mm) with subsequent MVI confirmation by histopathology. The associations between PET-positive status and tumor factors were assessed. Furthermore, independent predictors for MVI and diagnostic utility of each MVI predictor were assessed. Multivariate analysis revealed the presence of MVI as an independent predictor of PET-positive status (P = 0.023). Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 3.2 or greater (P = 0.017) and lens culinaris agglutinin a-reactive α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) 19% or greater (P = 0.010) were independent predictors of MVI. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for SUVmax of 3.2 or greater, AFP-L3 19% or greater, and both factors combined for predicting MVI were 0.712 (0.493-0.932), 0.755 (0.563-0.947), and 0.856 (0.721-0.991), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting MVI were 77.8% and 74.5% for SUVmax of 3.2 or greater, 66.7% and 84.3% for AFP-L3 19% or greater, and 88.9% and 82.4% for the combination. F-FDG PET-CT and AFP-L3 may be useful for predicting MVI in small HCC, and the combination of the 2 factors provided reliable assessment for selection of suitable hepatic resection and liver transplantation candidates.

Comparison of Surgical Outcomes and Long-term Survival between Limited and Major Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Less than 5 cm

Purpose: Though major hepatic resections including hemihepatectomy, trisectionectomy, and central bisectionectomy are most commonly employed for small (＜5 ㎝) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), limited hepatic resection is indicated in some HCC patients with impaired liver function, poor physical condition, or tumors peripherally located. We compared the clinicopathological features and long-term survival between the patients who underwent major resection and limited resection. Methods: From January 1998 to May 2007, 223 patients who underwent hepatic resection for small HCC were enrolled. 123 patients underwent limited resection and 100 patients underwent major resection. Clinocopathologic features, overall, and disease-free survival were compared between both groups. Results: The limited resection group had lower mean serum albumin levels (3.86±0.41 vs. 4.11±3.61, P＜0.0001) and higher mean ICG R15 (12.66±0.87 vs. 7.51±4.33, P＜0.0001). Patients with esophageal varix and liver cirrhosis were more common in the limited resection group (34.1% and 73.1% versus 9% and 45% respectively). Morbidity and mortality were not different in both groups. Overall 1-, 3-, 5-year survivals in both limited resection and major resection groups were 89.4%, 77.3%, 43.8% and 87.8%, 76.5%, 62.1% respectively (P=0.161) and 1-, 3-, 5-year disease free survivals were 80.2%, 50.2%, 38.6% and 79.9%, 63.2%, 50.4% respectively (P=0.10). Conclusion: Despite indifference of overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates between limited and major resection groups, careful follow up is essential to detect late recurrence in the limited resection group, since limited resection tends to have more frequent recurrence, especially 2 years after surgery.

Systematic hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea

Systematic hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a widely preferred modality, but evidence concerning its benefits is lacking. The aim of this study was to document hepatic resection for small HCC in Korea, and to determine whether patient survival or the pattern of tumor recurrence was influenced by the methods used. Ten major hospitals that perform hepatectomy for HCC in Korea were surveyed for surgeons' opinions concerning systematic hepatectomy and current trends in hepatic resection for small HCC. An analysis was also performed of 119 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for small HCC (size < 5 cm) between January 2000 and December 2002 at Seoul National University Hospital. Seventy-four of these 119 patients underwent anatomical resection (AR) and 45 had a non-anatomical resection (NAR). Recurrence-free survival, recurrence pattern, overall survival rates, and the risk factors for recurrence were analyzed. In the survey, eight of ten surgeons preferred systematic hepatectomy and considered it to aid prognosis. No significant difference was found between the AR and NAR groups in terms of the clinicopathologic findings, except that the presence of underlying hepatic cirrhosis was more prevalent in the NAR group. The postoperative morbidity rate was higher in the NAR group (33.3% vs 27.0%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The respective 1- and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were 78.1% and 49.7% in the AR group, and 68.9% and 46.5% in the NAR group (P > 0.05). The corresponding 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 88.8% and 80.8% in the AR group and 91.0% and 71.4% in the NAR group (P > 0.05). Although systematic hepatectomy seems to be superior to non-anatomical hepatectomy from the oncological and anatomical aspects, this superiority is not reflected by the recurrence patterns or the survival and recurrence rates of the two procedures. Postoperative recurrence appears, rather, to be related to the underlying liver condition.

Analysis of factors affecting outcome after hepatectomy of patients with liver cirrhosis and small hepatocellular carcinoma.

To review our policy of screening patients at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to present 10 years' experience of hepatic resection for small HCC (< 5 cm). Retrospective study. Teaching hospital, Germany. 861 patients with hepatic cirrhosis and oesophageal varices of whom 151 (18%) had HCC confirmed histologically; 30 of these tumours (20%) were less than 5 cm in diameter and suitable for resection. Segmentectomy (n = 14) bisegmentectomy (n = 10), and oncologically defined wedge resection (n = 6). Mortality, morbidity, and survival. 4 patients died within 30 days of liver failure and sepsis (n = 20, liver failure (n = 1), and bronchopneumonia (n = 1). The main beneficial prognostic factors were Child classification, donation of autologous blood, and an encapsulated tumour. The main indicators of a poor prognosis were invasion of the liver, venous invasion, invasion of the resection margin, and the presence of microsatellite tumours and nodules. 12 of the 26 survivors developed recurrences during the first five years postoperatively (46%). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that survival at 1 year was 80%, at 3 years 65%, and 5 years 50%, and at 10 years 30%. Hepatic resection is a useful treatment for small HCC, but its success depends on early detection and careful selection of patients.

Reappraisal of surgical treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhosis: Clinicopathological study of resection or transplantation

Thirty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurring in individuals with cirrhosis had a potentially curative surgical procedure. Twenty-two had segmental hepatic resections (HR), and 10 underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). The diagnosis of hepatic malignancy was established in each case preoperatively, and each case was studied intraoperatively by means of sonography. Postoperatively each surgical specimen was examined pathologically with attention to the possibility of intrahepatic tumor spread. Twenty-three of the 32 patients had single small HCC lesion (less than 5 cm diameter) identified preoperatively. Sixteen of these underwent HR and seven underwent OLTx. Multiple additional neoplastic lesions were found in 19% of the 16 HR cases and in 14% of those undergoing OLTx when the resection specimens were examined pathologically. Vascular invasion was present in 43% of the OLTx patients and in 25% of the HR patients. Subtotal hepatic resection for small HCC occurring in cirrhosis has produced few long-term survivals. Both pre- and intraoperative sonography have been shown to underestimate the extent and distribution of these tumors. Based upon this experience that (1) vascular spread occurs often in HCC and (2) a high risk of postoperative hepatic failure can be expected after HR in cirrhotic individuals, OLTx is the most rational surgical procedure for such cases as it has the potential to cure.