Liver Resection Versus Embolization for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently recurs even after curative resection.
• Identifying effective treatment strategies for recurrent HCC is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the efficacy of liver resection (LR) for recurrent HCC.
• To compare survival outcomes between initial LR, repeated LR, and transcatheter chemoembolization (TACE) for recurrent HCC.

Main Methods:

• Patients with intrahepatic recurrence (up to three lesions) were analyzed.
• Survival times were compared between first LR, second LR, and third LR groups.
• Propensity score matching was used to compare LR with TACE for recurrent HCC.

Main Results:

• Median overall survival for first, second, and third LR were 6.5, 5.7, and 5.1 years, respectively.
• Second LR (5.7 years) and third LR (6.2 years) showed significantly longer survival than TACE (3.1 and 3.4 years, respectively) after recurrence.
• Severe complications were noted in the first LR group, and operative times increased with repeated LRs.

Conclusions:

• Repeated liver resection is a viable and effective treatment for recurrent HCC involving up to three lesions.
• Liver resection provides superior survival benefits compared to TACE for recurrent HCC patients meeting specific criteria.