Primary carcinoma of the liver

Since 1947, 173 patients have been seen with primary carcinoma of the liver; 68 percent had hepatomas, 26 percent cholangiocarcinomas, and 6 percent mixed-cell carcinomas. Of these patients, 9 percent were Stage I or unstaged, whereas 28 percent were Stage III and had short lengths of survival. The 108 patients with Stage II carcinoma of the liver were analyzed according to treatment regimens. Thirty-one patients were observed but untreated; 47 patients were treated by systemic chemotherapy and 25 patients were treated by surgical resection. Three patients were treated by infusion chemotherapy and two by dearterialization. When primary carcinoma of the liver is resectable, approximately 20 percent of patients may be expected to become long-term survivors. If not resectable, short-term improvement in length of survival (8 to 13 months) may be obtained by systemic or infusion chemotherapy and by hepatic dearterialization. Earlier diagnosis and an aggressive surgical approach lends hope for some cures for patients with this difficult disease.