FOLLOW-UP EXAMINATION SCHEDULE OF POSTOPERATIVE HCC PATIENTS BASED ONTUMOR VOLUME DOUBLING TIME

The tumor volume doubling time of 27 recurrent hepatocellular carcinom a nodules measuring less-than-or-equal-to 2.0 cm in diameter discovere d after hepatectomy in 19 patients was analyzed by ultrasonography for 31 to 331 days. The tumor volume doubling time ranged from 39 to 420 days before specific treatment, with a mean of 112 days and a median o f 80 days. It correlated with age and intrahepatic site of recurrence, which was sometimes the same lobe as that of the prior hepatocellular carcinoma, sometimes not. The tumor volume doubling time also tended to correlate with hepatitis C antibody status and initial tumor diamet er. The tumor volume doubling time was, however, independent of sex, h epatitis B surface antigen status, number of recurrent tumors, initial serum alpha-fetoprotein level, interval between hepatectomy and recur rence detection, and associated liver disease. On the basis of the sho rtest tumor volume doubling time of the recurrent hepatocellular carci noma nodules, we recommend that US and/or CT be performed at least eve ry four months to screen for small recurrent carcinomas in postoperati ve patients.