SURGICAL EXPERIENCE WITH 168 PRIMARY LIVER-CELL CARCINOMAS TREATED WITH HEPATIC RESECTION

Liver resections were performed in 168 patients with hepatocellular ca rcinoma (HCC) over the past 10 years; 116 were cirrhotics. Operative m ortality was 7.7% (8.6% in the cirrhotic group and 5.8% in non-cirrhot ics). In the years 1987-1992 the operative mortality decreased from 15 .6% to 4.9% (P < .05). A statistical analysis of survival was made wit h the data of 155 patients with a follow-up of more than 1 month after curative resection: 56 (36.1%) died, while 99 (63.8%) are currently a live, with a follow-up varying from 2 to 76 months. The actuarial surv ival rate is 56.7% after 3 years and 36.3% after 5 years (59% and 35.2 % for cirrhotics; 52.2% and 37.7% for non-cirrhotics, respectively). S atisfactory results can be obtained after liver resections in HCC, eve n in the presence of cirrhosis. Further efforts are needed in the earl y diagnosis of HCC, to prevent the formation of satellite nodules and the intrahepatic tumoral spread, which represent the major cause of ex clusion from surgical therapy.