Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2006; 12(29): 4652-4655
Published online Aug 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i29.4652
Hepatectomy for huge hepatocellular carcinoma in 634 cases
Xiao-Ping Chen, Fa-Zu Qiu, Zai-De Wu, Bi-Xiang Zhang
Xiao-Ping Chen, Fa-Zu Qiu, Zai-De Wu, Bi-Xiang Zhang, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital Medical, College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Correspondence to: Professor Xiao-Ping Chen, MD, FACS, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. chenxp_53@sina.com
Telephone: +86-27-83662599 Fax: +86-27-83662851
Received: May 12, 2005
Revised: May 28, 2005
Accepted: February 26, 2006
Published online: August 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To clarify the safety and feasibility of hepatectomy for huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: A total of 4765 patients with HCC operated at Tongji Hospital were retrospectively studied, of them, 780 patients had huge HCC (10 cm or more in diameter). Hepatectomy was carried out on 634 patients (81.2%). The majority of the liver resection were major resections, and combined resection of the adjacent organs or structures was common (17.2%). The liver resection was combined with portal vein thrombectomy in 139 patients (21.9%).

RESULTS: Postoperative complications were common (26.8%) and required another laparotomy to prevent the complications in 5 patients (0.8%). The 30-d mortality was 2.2%. The main causes of postoperative deaths were liver failure (n = 9), postoperative bleeding (n = 4) and septic complication (n = 1). The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates after liver resection were 35.1%, 18.2% and 3.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy for huge HCC is safe and effective. It should be used to treat patients with low surgical risks and resectable tumours.

Keywords: Hepatectomy, Huge hepatocellular