REHEPATECTOMY OF PRIMARY LIVER-CANCER

From January 1960 to July 1991, 72 patients underwent reoperation for recurrence of liver cancer. Hepatectomy was performed twice in 59 case s, three and four times each in nine and three cases. The 1, 3, and 5- year survival rates after the first operation were 98.6%, 69.9%, and 4 9.5%, respectively, while after the second operation these rates were 90.8%, 53.5%, and 36.1%, respectively. The 1,2, and 3-year survival ra tes after the third operation were 100%, 85.6%, and 36.7%, respectivel y. The preliminary results of rehepatectomy are thus encouraging. The indications for reintervention, types of operation, prophylactic measu res against tumor recurrence and metastases, and evaluation of rehepat ectomy are discussed. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.