Prognostic analysis for treatment modalities in hepatocellular carcinomas with portal vein tumor thrombi

To assess prognostic aspects of treatment modalities for cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT).

121 treated cases were retrospectively divided into five groups: 1 (liver transplantation); 2 (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization); 3 (hepatectomy plus thrombectomy); 4 (hepatectomy plus thrombectomy combined with adjuvant chemobiotherapy via portal vein); and 5 (conservative treatment). The Kaplan-Meier method with difference in survival estimated by Log-rank test was used to compare between groups.

Groups 1-5 had a significantly differing median survival times of 7, 7, 10, 16, 3 months (P<0.05), respectively. One- and three-year survival rates were 30.0% and 10.0%, 20.0% and 0.0%, 47.0% and 22.0%, 70% and 20%, and 12% and 4%.

Surgical resection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy via the portal vein is an effective and safe treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombi.