Abstract
Hepatic resection for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) offers patients a chance of cure but is associated with a significant tumor recurrence rate. We characterized 145 resected small HCCs and defined patients who would most benefit from hepatic resection. A retrospective study was conducted of 485 HCC patients who had undergone curative resection. The clinical features and survival rates of patients with HCCs ≤ 3 cm (group 1, n = 145) were compared with those of patients with HCCs > 3 cm (group 2, n = 340). Compared with group 2 patients, group 1 had worse liver function, a higher frequency of hepatitis C infection, and a lower α-fetoprotein level. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates of group 1 were better than those of group 2 (82%, 59%, and 42% vs. 56%, 39%, and 31%, respectively) (p < 0.001). From the sixth postoperative year onward, the proportions of disease-free survivors were not significantly different between the two groups (32% vs. 31%). By multivariate analysis, factors influencing small-HCC patients’ outcomes were tumor centrally located (p = 0.003), indocyanine green retention rate > 10% (p = 0.017), and albumin level < 3.7 g/dl (p = 0.004). A clinical risk scoring system incorporating these factors correlated closely with the patients’ outcomes and it may be used to select patients who would most benefit from hepatic resection.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, JY., Chau, GY., Lui, WY. et al. Clinicopathologic Features and Factors Related to Survival of Patients with Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Hepatic Resection. World J. Surg. 27, 294–298 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-002-6539-6
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-002-6539-6