Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma: clinicopathologic study of 18 surgically resected cases

We present the clinical features and outcomes of 18 surgically treated pedunculated hepatocellular carcinomas (P-HCCs). Hepatocellular carcinoma is a notorious, hyperendemic disease in Taiwan. Pedunculated HCC, although not a novel finding, has been recognized and diagnosed early by various imaging modalities. However, the clinicopathologic picture has not been fully clarified, and the prognosis varies in each report. From 1986 to 1998 the clinical features of 18 surgically treated cases of P-HCC were reviewed, including demographics, laboratory data, operative findings, pathologic features, and follow-up results. Factors that may influence the outcomes were also analyzed. Clinical features and outcomes of 414 patients with nonpedunculated hepatocellular (HCC) were summarized for comparison. Of 432 surgical resected hepatocellular carcinomas, 18 (4.2%) were P-HCCs. Larger tumor size, more capsule formation, less vascular invasion, and wider resection margins were significantly prominent in the patients in P-HCC group compared with those in the NP-HCC group. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the P-HCC group had significantly larger tumors and wider resection margins. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of P-HCC patients were 88.3%, 77.4%, and 45.6%, respectively. A significant difference in survival was found between the P-HCC and NP-HCC groups. P-HCC patients without vascular invasion might have a significantly better survival demonstrated by log-rank analysis stratified by capsular invasion, vascular invasion, resection, and tumor size. We present the clinical features and outcomes of 18 surgically treated pedunculated HCCs. Pedunculated HCCs might have a better survival than conventional HCCs after hepatic resection, especially if there is no vascular invasion.