AIM: To evaluate whether the Milan criteria are useful in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Thirty-six HCC pat...AIM: To evaluate whether the Milan criteria are useful in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Thirty-six HCC patients who fulfilled the Milan criteria after having received TACE and subsequently underwent LT were included (TACE + LT group) in the study. As controls, 21 patients who also met the Milan criteria and underwent LT without prior treatment were selected (LT group). Post-LT clinical outcomes, such as HCC recurrence, survival rate, and histologic features of explanted livers, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not different between the two groups. Pre-LT maximal tumor diameter in TACE + LT group was similar to that of LT group (2.0 ± 0.6 cm vs 2.3 ± 0.9 cm; P = 0.10). Post-LT histologic findings also revealed similar maximal tumor diameter in the two groups (2.4 ± 1.4 cm vs 2.3 ± 0.9 cm; P = 0.70). Explanted livers showed similar incidence of unfavorable pathologic features. The morality within 60 d after transplantation was not different between the two groups (8.3% vs 9.5%; P = 0.99). Post-LT 5-year survival rate (57% vs 74%; P = 0.70) and cumulative recurrence rate (8.3% vs 4.8%; P = 0.90) were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The Milan criteria are still a useful selec- tion criteria showing favorable outcomes in HCC patientsreceiving TACE before LT.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the outcome of sub-centimeter-sized nodules (SCSNs) detected during surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 142 patients wi...AIM: To evaluate the outcome of sub-centimeter-sized nodules (SCSNs) detected during surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 142 patients with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C without a prior history of HCC in whom a SCSN was detected during HCC surveillance. We calculated the rate of HCC development from SCSNs in the study population and analyzed the differences in the baseline clinical characteristics and imaging features between the patients with SCSNs that eventually developed into HCC and patients with SCSNs that did not develop into HCC.RESULTS: During 667 person-years of follow-up, HCC developed in 33 patients. The calculated HCC development rate was 4.9% per year. The cumulative one-, two-, three- and five-year HCC development rates were 5.6%, 10.6%, 14.1% and 20.4%, respectively. Upon baseline comparison, the HCC group was older (54.4 ± 8.3 years vs 48.9 ± 9.4 years; P = 0.003) and had lower albumin levels (3.56 ± 0.58 g/dL vs 3.84 ± 0.55 g/dL; P = 0.012) and higher baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (8.5 ng/mL vs 5.4 ng/mL; P = 0.035) compared to the non-HCC group. Nodule pattern and initial radiologic diagnosis also differed between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that age [P = 0.012, odds ratio (OR) =1.075, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.016-1.137], sex (P = 0.009, OR = 3.969, 95% CI: 1.403-11.226), and baseline AFP level (P = 0.024, OR = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.005-1.073) were independent risk factors for developing HCC. CONCLUSION: The overall risk of HCC development in patients with SCSNs is similar to that in liver cirrhosis patients. Patients with these risk factors need to be closely monitored during follow-up.展开更多
文摘AIM: To evaluate whether the Milan criteria are useful in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Thirty-six HCC patients who fulfilled the Milan criteria after having received TACE and subsequently underwent LT were included (TACE + LT group) in the study. As controls, 21 patients who also met the Milan criteria and underwent LT without prior treatment were selected (LT group). Post-LT clinical outcomes, such as HCC recurrence, survival rate, and histologic features of explanted livers, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not different between the two groups. Pre-LT maximal tumor diameter in TACE + LT group was similar to that of LT group (2.0 ± 0.6 cm vs 2.3 ± 0.9 cm; P = 0.10). Post-LT histologic findings also revealed similar maximal tumor diameter in the two groups (2.4 ± 1.4 cm vs 2.3 ± 0.9 cm; P = 0.70). Explanted livers showed similar incidence of unfavorable pathologic features. The morality within 60 d after transplantation was not different between the two groups (8.3% vs 9.5%; P = 0.99). Post-LT 5-year survival rate (57% vs 74%; P = 0.70) and cumulative recurrence rate (8.3% vs 4.8%; P = 0.90) were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The Milan criteria are still a useful selec- tion criteria showing favorable outcomes in HCC patientsreceiving TACE before LT.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the outcome of sub-centimeter-sized nodules (SCSNs) detected during surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 142 patients with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C without a prior history of HCC in whom a SCSN was detected during HCC surveillance. We calculated the rate of HCC development from SCSNs in the study population and analyzed the differences in the baseline clinical characteristics and imaging features between the patients with SCSNs that eventually developed into HCC and patients with SCSNs that did not develop into HCC.RESULTS: During 667 person-years of follow-up, HCC developed in 33 patients. The calculated HCC development rate was 4.9% per year. The cumulative one-, two-, three- and five-year HCC development rates were 5.6%, 10.6%, 14.1% and 20.4%, respectively. Upon baseline comparison, the HCC group was older (54.4 ± 8.3 years vs 48.9 ± 9.4 years; P = 0.003) and had lower albumin levels (3.56 ± 0.58 g/dL vs 3.84 ± 0.55 g/dL; P = 0.012) and higher baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (8.5 ng/mL vs 5.4 ng/mL; P = 0.035) compared to the non-HCC group. Nodule pattern and initial radiologic diagnosis also differed between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that age [P = 0.012, odds ratio (OR) =1.075, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.016-1.137], sex (P = 0.009, OR = 3.969, 95% CI: 1.403-11.226), and baseline AFP level (P = 0.024, OR = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.005-1.073) were independent risk factors for developing HCC. CONCLUSION: The overall risk of HCC development in patients with SCSNs is similar to that in liver cirrhosis patients. Patients with these risk factors need to be closely monitored during follow-up.
