Prophylactic chemolipiodolization for postoperative hepatoma patients

Background/Aims: The efficacy of prophylactic chemolipiodolization followin g hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was studied. Methodology: Forty-four of 67 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carc inoma who underwent hepatectomy between 1980 and 1997 were divided into two groups: group A (n=21), in which prophylactic chemolipiodolization was per formed during postoperative follow-up (2.4 times on average using a 39mg me an dose of epirubicin or doxorubicin); and group B (n=23), without prophyla ctic chemolipiodolization. The clinicopathological background and patient s urvival were compared retrospectively. Results: There were no differences in the clinico- pathological background between the two groups. Multiple intrahepatic recurrence was frequently obs erved in group B (P <0.02). The recurrence-free survival rates in group A ( 54.4% and 31.1% at 3 and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher t han those in group B (15.7% and 7.9%, respectively). The survival rates of group A (95.2% and 80.4% at 3 and 5 years, respectively) were significantly higher than those in group B (40.1% and 22.9%, respectively). Conclusions: Our data suggest that postoperative prophylactic chemolipiodol ization can be an effective treatment in reducing intrahepatic recurrence a nd may prolong survival for hepatocellular carcinoma patients following hep atic resection.