Primary carcinoma of the liver

Four hundred and six patients with primary carcinoma of the liver were admitted to the University Surgical Service at this hospital. The males predominated, 5:1, and except for two patients, all were Chinese. The Hong Kong-born Chinese appeared to be relatively free of the disease which was common among the immigrants from the province of China adjoining Hong Kong. In 199 patients no treatment was possible, while in 83, resection was carried out. In 61 patients, surgical treatment was obligatory because of spontaneous rupture. In the remaining 81 patients, a clinical trial of five categories--hepatic dearterialization, hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil, hepatic arterial ligation and portal venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil, radiotherapy and no treatment--was carried out.