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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
Laparoscopic Anterior Right Hepatectomy: A Single-Center Experience
Published on: December 4, 2023
Nationwide study on survival and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after ablation as first treatment
Jeanett Klubien1, Lucas Alexander Knøfler1, Peter Nørgaard Larsen2
1Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Hepatic Malignancy Surgical Research Unit (HEPSURU), Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Background:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer worldwide with high mortality and recurrence rates. We aimed to report survival and recurrence rates following ablation as the first treatment using real-world data.
Methods:
This study was based on data from a database and medical records. Variables associated with survival were investigated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression, and for recurrence with the Aalen-Johansen estimator and cause-specific Cox regression.
Results:
From 2013 to 2023, 395 patients were included. Among them, 80% were men, the median age was 66 years, and 91% had cirrhosis. A complete ablation response was achieved in 86.1% of cases. Median survival was 3.4 years, and the five-year survival rate was 37.3%. Adjusted analysis showed a worse prognosis in patients with a tumor diameter ≥3 cm compared to <3 cm, performance status 1 and ≥ 2 compared to 0, and a percutaneous approach compared to open. Two-thirds developed recurrence, of whom 40.5% had de novo HCC, and 18% had local recurrence. Adjusted analysis showed that diameter ≥3 cm compared to <3 cm and three or more tumors had a higher recurrence risk.
Conclusion:
Recurrence remains challenging, particularly for patients with larger and multiple tumors, and studies investigating the treatment of recurrence are warranted.
Clinical Trials Register:
NCT05498779.
