[Surgical treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma]

Two hundred thirty-five patients with small hepato-cellular carcinomas (HCCs) (mixed hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma included) measuring no more than 3 cm in diameter treated by surgical resection between 1980 and 1990 were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-nine percent of the patients also had chronic hepatitis and 73% were diagnosed histologically as having liver cirrhosis. The operative and hospital mortality rates were 0.4% and 1.3%, respectively. The number of tumors, intrahepatic metastasis and vascular invasion were significant prognostic factors. Overall the 1-,3-and 5-year survival rates (operative deaths included) were 93.2%, 72. 7%, and 49.7%, and those of 144 patients treated in the late 80s (1986-1990) were 93.6%, 76.3%, and 52. 1%, respectively. These results were appreciably better than those for percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and transcatheter arterial embolization therapy (TAE) reported previously. In particular, the survival of the patient with single tumor demonstrated a clear advantage of surgery. The selection of treatment modalities is discussed, and our present standard strategy for surgical treatment is described.