[Resection of primary liver cancer following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: clinicopathological features and postoperative course in cases]

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinicopathological changes and post-operative course following transcatheter hepatic arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) in primary liver cancer (PLC).

Methods: One hundred and eighty-two cases of PLC were resected in 8 years. 35 cases of them that resected after 1-5 times of TACE were evaluated. 11 of the 35 cases were 5 cm or less in diameter, 24 cases were larger than 5 cm.

Results: Uptake of iodized oil, shrinkage of tumor mass and decrease of AFP level were good clinical features of the tumor after TACE and were related to the times of TACE. Only 7 of the 35 cases after TACE with 100% necrosis were found pathologically. The degree of necrosis was relative to injured vessels of PLC and was also related to the times of TACE. Post-operative survival rate and disease-free survival rate of the 35 cases in 5 years were 40.5% and 28.9%, respectively.

Conclusion: Single treatment of TACE is not curative to PLC, and it is essential to seize a chance to perform secondary liver resection of unresectable PLC after 2-3 times of TACE.