[Analysis of follow-up data in 83 cases of primary liver cancer]

Eighty-three patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) having survived over 5 years were investigated. 50.6% (42/83) of them were in Stage I and 49.4% (41/83) were in Stage II. Resection was performed in 94.0% (78/83), and hepatic artery ligation and/or cannulation was done in 6.0% (5/83). By the end of March 1990, 66.3% (55/83), were cancer-free, 4.8% (4/83) were living with the cancer, 20.5% (17/83) died from recurrence or metastasis of cancer, 7.2% (6/83) died from liver failure, and 1.2% (1/83) lost followup. 29 cases survived over 10 years after resection of PLC. A comparison with 811 patients having less than 5 years during the same period demonstrates that early discovery, lower gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor less than or equal to 5 cm, single nodule, well-encapsulated tumor, radical resection, and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) normalization after resection may contribute to prolonged survival. It is concluded that early detection and early radical resection are essential to improve the therapeutic effects.