[Long-term results after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma according to cancer stage]

The survival rates after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to cancer stage were reported. The 5-year survival rates of Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 69.6%, 54.2%, 35.9% and 30.2%, respectively. A significant difference was observed between any neighboring two stages. But more than 5 years till 20 years, the survival curves cross at some times. That means after 5 years the influence of the anatomic condition of the initial cancer has been weak. Probably another factor which controls multi-centric carcinogenesis of HCC may work. When the survival rate was calculated dividing the stage group into two sub-groups according to liver function, with good function or poor function, the survival of the poor liver function group of any stage group was worse than that of the good liver function group of the nearest worse stage group. The survival after hepatectomy of HCC depends not only upon anatomic condition of the cancer but also upon the liver function.