Evaluating the best treatment for multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score-matched analysis

Table 1 Distribution of the factors used in the propensity score matching in the general population (n = 50), n (%)

	Resection, n = 25	TACE, n = 25	Total, n = 50	P value
AFP, n (%)				0.243
< 400 ng/mL	20 (90.9)	17 (73.9)	37 (82.2)
> 400 ng/mL	2 (9.1)	6 (26.1)	8 (17.8)
Missing	3	2	5
Cirrhosis, n (%)				0.002
No	9 (36)	0	9 (18)
Yes	16 (64)	25 (100)	41 (82)
Child-Pugh score, n (%)				0.840
A5	12 (48)	10 (40)	22 (44)
A6	9 (36)	11 (44)	20 (40)
B7	4 (16)	4 (16)	8 (16)
MELD	8.4 ± 2.7	9.7 ± 2.2	9 ± 2.5	0.069
Number of lesions	2 (2-10)	4 (2-7)	2.5 (2-10)	0.008
Tumor diameter (mm)	69.5 ± 52.2	41.9 ± 17	55.7 ± 40.9	0.018

TACE: Trans-Arterial ChemoEmbolization; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; MELD: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.

Table 2 General baseline characteristics after propensity score matching (n = 30)

	Resection, n = 15	TACE, n = 15	Total, n = 30	P value
Age (yr)	68.9 ± 9.2	70.5 ± 9.9	69.7 ± 9.5	0.651
Gender, n (%)				0.651
Male	13 (86.7)	11 (73.3)	24 (80)
Female	2 (13.3)	4 (26.7)	6 (20)
BMI (kg/m2)	26.1 ± 4.3	26.3 ± 7.7	26.2 ± 5.9	0.927
Hepatitis Etiology, n (%)				0.300
Viral	4 (28.6)	9 (60)	13 (44.8)
Alcoholic	0	1 (6.7)	1 (3.5)
Dysmetabolic	3 (21.4)	1 (6.7)	4 (13.8)
Mixed	3 (21.4)	1 (6.7)	4 (13.8)
Other	4 (28.6)	3 (20)	7 (24.1)
Missing	1	-	1
Diabetes, n (%)				0.700
No	9 (60)	11 (73.3)	20 (66.7)
Yes	6 (40)	4 (26.7)	10 (33.3)
Heart disease, n (%)				0.330
No	11 (73.3)	14 (93.3)	25 (83.3)
Yes	4 (26.7)	1 (6.7)	5 (16.7)

TACE: Trans-Arterial ChemoEmbolization; BMI: Body mass index.

Table 3 Liver function test and disease burden after propensity score matching (n = 30)

	Resection, n = 15	TACE, n = 15	Total, n = 30	P value
INR	1.2 ± 0.1	1.3 ± 0.3	1.2 ± 0.2	0.185
Bilirubin (mg/dL)	0.75 ± 0.5	1.2 ± 0.6	0.99 ± 0.6	0.026
Platelets (103/μL)	245 ± 118	95 ± 31	163 ± 111	0.003
Creatinine (mg/dL)	1.37 ± 0.8	0.78 ± 0.2	1.08 ± 1.19	0.188
AFP, n (%)				1.000
< 400 ng/mL	13 (86.7)	12 (80)	25 (83.3)
> 400 ng/mL	2 (13.3)	3 (20)	5 (16.7)
Varices, n (%)				0.081
No	8 (80)	4 (36.4)	12 (57.1)
Yes	2 (20)	7 (63.6)	9 (42.9)
Missing	5	4	9
Cirrhosis, n (%)				0.100
No	4 (26.7)	0	4 (13.3)
Yes	11 (73.3)	15 (100)	26 (86.7)
Child-Pugh score, n (%)				0.556
A5	8 (53.3)	5 (33.3)	13 (43.3)
A6	6 (40)	7 (46.7)	13 (43.3)
B7	1 (6.7)	3 (20)	4 (13.4)
MELD score	9.1 ± 3.2	9.9 ± 2.4	9.5 ± 2.8	0.473
Number of lesions	2 (2-5)	3 (2-5)	2 (2-5)	0.101
Diameter (mm)	46.3 ± 3	47 ± 5	46.9 ± 12.9	0.793
Up-to-7 criteria, n (%)				0.456
In	10 (66.7)	8 (53.3)	18 (60)
Out	5 (33.3)	7 (46.7)	12 (40)
ITA.LI.CA classification, n (%)				0.868
B1	10 (66.7)	8 (53.3)	18 (60)
B2	3 (20)	5 (33.3)	8 (26.7)
B3	2 (13.3)	2 (13.3)	4 (13.3)

TACE: Trans-Arterial ChemoEmbolization; INR: International normalized ratio; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; MELD: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.

Table 4 Postoperative morbidity and recurrence status (n = 30)

	Resection, n = 15	TACE, n = 15	Total, n = 30	P value
Number of treatments	1 ± 0	2.4 ± 1.1	1.7 ± 1.1	0.001
Complications, n (%)				0.876
No	8 (57.1)	9 (60)	17 (58.6)
Yes	6 (42.9)	6 (40)	12 (41.4)
Missing	1	-	1
Complications, n (%)				0.545
CD 1-2	5 (83.3)	5 (83.3)	10
CD 3-4	1 (16.7)	1 (16.7)	2 (16.7)
Hospital stay (days)	7 ± 3	5 ± 5	6 ± 4.3	0.224
Recurrence, n (%)				0.006
No	7 (46.7)	0	7 (23.3)
Yes	8 (53.3)	15 (100)	23 (76.7)

TACE: Trans-Arterial ChemoEmbolization; CD: Clavien-Dindo classification grade.