Recurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma following initial remission by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

The aim of this study was: (i) to define the characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with recurrences following initial remission by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE); (ii) to evaluate the patterns of recurrences; and (iii) find a better surveillance method of detecting recurrent HCC.

Out of 230 consecutive HCC patients who underwent TACE, 77 with initial remission were followed prospectively for at least 12 months. We compared the recurrence rates according to the characteristics of the tumors and analyzed the locations of the recurrent HCC. The diagnostic efficacies of CT scans with serum AFP, angiography and Lipiodol CT scan in detecting recurrent HCC were also evaluated.

Recurrent HCC was detected in 40 patients during a median period of 27 months. The recurrence rate of multinodular HCC was higher than the single nodular type. All six patients with portal vein thrombosis recurred. Even though 45% of recurrences were adjacent to original tumors, 63% were separated from them (8% at both). Hepatocellular carcinoma with heterogeneous Lipiodol uptake tended to recur at the site adjacent to the original tumors more frequently than HCC with homogeneous Lipiodol uptake. Only 18 of 40 recurrent HCC were initially detected by serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and CT scans: 19 by angiography and three only by Lipiodol CT scan.

Our data indicated that HCC of the multinodular type and with portal vein thrombosis recur more frequently following initial remission by TACE. It is also suggested that regular angiography in addition to serum AFP and CT scan may be valuable in detecting recurrent HCC. Other treatment modalities may need to be combined to ablate tumors completely and to therefore reduce recurrences, especially in HCC with heterogeneous Lipiodol uptake.