Feasibility and safety of liver resection for huge hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotics

Abstract

Background: With the current high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), more patients even with large and huge HCC are considered for liver resection.Methods: Medical records of consecutive adult cirrhotic patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for huge HCC (≥10 cm, huge HCC group) versus small HCC (<5 cm, small HCC group) at Sohag university hospital (January 2016 to December 2020) were analyzed. Both groups were compared regarding postoperative morbidity and risk of mortality following post hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) as defined by the 50-50 criteria (50% mortality occurs among patients who developed increased plasma bilirubin >50 μml/l and reduced prothrombin activity <50% on postoperative day 5 (POD-5).Results: Thirty two patients were enrolled (16 per group), with median age of 56 (range 38-81) years, 22 were males. In correlation with resection of more liver segments in the huge HCC group, post hepatectomy alteration of liver functions (bilirubin rise and reduction of albumin and prothrombin concentration) was significantly pronounced among patients who had resection for huge compared with small HCC (p<0.05). Huge HCC group exhibited significantly worse postoperative complication score (p< 0.05) and needed significantly prologed periods of hospital stay (p<0.05). Concurrent persistence of PHLF and thrombocytopenia until POD-5 occurred in 3 patients (2 with huge HCC and 1 with small HCC). Among those patients, only one from huge HCC group died (mortality 6%) postoperatively.Conclusions: Liver resection provides safe and effective treatment strategy for carefully selected cirrhotic patients with huge HCC.