Results of surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

During the past 13-years, 35 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by hepatic resection. There were 11 females and 24 males, the age ranged from 17 to 82 years with a mean of 59 years. HCC was associated with liver cirrhosis in 17 patients (48%). Fifteen patients underwent a major hepatectomy, 18 patients a partial hepatectomy (single or bisegmentectomy) and 2 patients had a wedge resection. One patient presenting with a spontaneous tumor rupture died immediately after surgery. Out of the 34 others, 3 died in the postoperative period (8.8%). Early complications occurred in 57% of the patients. The actuarial 5-years survival rate is 30%. The only prognostic factor is tumor extension to a single or both lobes. A significant difference in the survival rate has been observed between patients with or without underlying cirrhosis. Our experience suggest that long-term survival can be expected after surgical resection for HCC.