Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma (small + hepatocellular_carcinoma)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Immunohistologic study on the expressions of ,-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II in surgically resected small hepatocellular carcinoma

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
Miwako Fujioka
Sixty-eight cases of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with less than 3 cm of diameter were immunohistochemically examined for the expressions of ,-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II). In cancerous tissues, the expression rate was significantly higher for PIVKA-II (34 cases [50%]) than AFP (21 cases [31%]) (P < .05), suggesting a higher specificity of PIVKA-II to small HCC. Sixteen of the 68 cases (24%) were positive to both AFP and PIVKA-II, and in 8 of the 16 cases, AFP and PIVKA-II expressing areas within a nodule were clearly divided by a fibrous septum. According to histologic grades, PIVKA-II expression was confirmed in 2 of the 15 well-differentiated HCCs, and in the well-differentiated component of 6 of the 12 "nodule-in-nodule",type well-differentiated HCCs. AFP expression was not found in well-differentiated HCCs, but found in 16 of the 40 moderately differentiated HCCs (40%) and in the moderately differentiated component of 3 of the 12 "nodule-in-nodule",type well-differentiated HCCs. The positive rate in the tissues was correlated to the serum levels for both AFP and PIVKA-II. In addition, frequency of tissue,PIVKA-II expression was higher than tissue-AFP expression in the cases whose serum protein level was within the normal range. This indicates that AFP and PIVKA-II have different patterns of tissue expression and of secretion to the blood. In comparison with tissue-AFP,negative cases, tissue-AFP,positive HCCs had a larger tumor size, higher frequencies of portal vein invasion and intrahepatic metastasis, a high Ki-67 labeling index, and a lower rate of recurrence-free survival. Thus, tissue-AFP,positive HCCs are suggested to be biologically more malignant than those HCCs that are AFP-negative and PIVKA-II,positive. [source]


Surgery versus radiofrequency ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma: Start of a randomized controlled trial (SURF trial)

HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010
Kiyoshi Hasegawa
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Flash-echo contrast sonography in the evaluation of response of small hepatocellular carcinoma to percutaneous ablation

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 4 2006
Jing-Houng Wang MD
Abstract Purpose. To evaluate the use of flash-echo contrast sonography (FECS) in subtraction mode in assessing small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after percutaneous local ablation therapy. Methods. Between March 2000 and February 2002, we prospectively assessed small HCCs after percutaneous local ablation therapy using FECS in subtraction mode. Thirty-three patients (22 men, 11 women) with 35 tumors ranging in size from 1.1 to 3.0 cm (mean ± SD, 2.0 ± 0.5) were enrolled. Twenty-one tumors received percutaneous ethanol injection only, 13 tumors received percutaneous microwave ablation therapy only, and the remaining tumor received both treatments. CT, hepatic angiography, and follow-up were used as gold standards in analyzing the accuracy of FECS in detecting residual tumors. Results. The agreements between FECS and CT, FECS and hepatic angiography, and all 3 imaging modalities were 80% (28/35), 85.7% (30/35), and 77.1% (27/35), respectively. Twenty-one patients with 23 completely ablated tumors were followed up for 5 to 39 months (mean ± SD, 20.2 ± 11.2). Recurrent disease was detected in 11 (52.4%) patients; local tumor recurrence occurred in 4 (17.4%) patients. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of FECS in detecting viable tumors were 53.8% (7/13), 90.9% (20/22), 77.1% (27/35), 77.8% (7/9), and 76.9% (20/26), respectively. Conclusions. FECS in subtraction mode shows good agreement with hepatic angiography and CT in the assessment of small HCC after percutaneous local ablation therapy. The sensitivity of FECS in detecting residual tumors is suboptimal. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 34:161,168, 2006 [source]


Hepatic resection compared to percutaneous ethanol injection for small hepatocellular carcinoma using propensity score matching

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 10 2007
Yong Beom Cho
Abstract Background:, Several surgical and non-surgical therapeutic modalities have been used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There have been several studies comparing hepatic resection (HR) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for the treatment of HCC. However, there is still disagreement about the best treatment modality. Methods:, From 130 patients undergoing HR, 116 patients were individually matched to 116 controls from 249 patients undergoing PEI using propensity score matching to overcome possible biases in non-randomized study. Survival analyses were undertaken to compare these propensity score-matched groups. Results:, After matching by propensity score, the major clinical outcomes in the HR (n = 116) and the PEI (n = 116) groups were found to be similar. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were higher in the HR group (94.8%, 76.5% and 65.6%) compared to the PEI group (95.7%, 73.5% and 49.3%) (P = 0.059). The cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates showed the same trend (HR: 76.1%, 50.6% and 40.6%; PEI: 62.6%, 25.5% and 19.1%) (P < 0.001). However, when stratified by Child,Pugh classification, it was no longer the case in the Child B patients. Single intrahepatic recurrence was the most common pattern of tumor recurrence after both treatments. Conclusions:, Patients undergoing HR had a better survival profile than those undergoing PEI. However, when considering which technique to use for optimal HCC management, the individual patient's hepatic function must be considered. [source]


Prognostic factors in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma treated by percutaneous ethanol injection

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 11 2002
Hitoshi Kuriyama
Abstract Background: Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) has been widely performed and is now accepted as a viable alternative to hepatic resection in patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). However, only a few extensive investigations have been conducted regarding the prognostic factors for HCC patients treated with PEI. Methods: We investigated the prognostic factors in 100 patients with small HCC who had undergone PEI. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model were used to determine the factors potentially related to survival. For clinical application, a prognostic index was calculated based on the regression coefficients of the independent variables identified from the multivariate analysis. Results: Median survival time and 1, 3 and 5 year survival rates were 71 months and 100, 84 and 62%, respectively. Among the 15 potential prognostic variables investigated, only three variables, namely a serum albumin level ,,3.5 g/dL, the presence of tumor stain and a serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase level>,66 IU/L, were identified as factors independently associated with a shorter survival. A prognostic index based on the regression coefficients of these three factors was proposed to classify patients into three groups, those with a good (5 year survival rate 91%), intermediate (64%) and poor prognosis (22%). Conclusions: The results of the present study may be useful in predicting the survival of HCC patients treated with PEI and in the design and analysis of future clinical trials of PEI for HCC. © 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd [source]


Working towards a real cure for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Nancy Leung
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Predicting the probability of progression-free survival in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2002
Steve J. Cheng
Allocation of cadaveric livers to patients based on such objective medical urgency data as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score may not benefit patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). To ensure that these patients have a fair opportunity of receiving a cadaveric organ, the risk for death caused by HCC and tumor progression beyond 5 cm should be considered. Using a Markov model, two hypothetical cohorts of patients with small hepatomas were assumed to have either (1) Gompertzian tumor growth, in which initial exponential growth decreases as tumor size increases; or (2) rapid exponential growth. The model tracked the number of patients who either died or had tumor progression beyond 5 cm. These results were used to back-calculate an equivalent MELD score for patients with small HCCs. All probabilities in the model were varied simultaneously using a Monte Carlo simulation. The Gompertzian growth model predicted that patients with a 1- and 4-cm tumor have 1-year progression-free survival rates of 70% (HCC-specific MELD score 6) and 66% (HCC-specific MELD score 8), respectively. When assuming rapid exponential growth, patients with a 1- and 4-cm tumor have progression-free survival rates of 69% (HCC-specific MELD score 6) and 12% (HCC-specific MELD score 24), respectively. Our model predicted that the risk for death caused by HCC or tumor progression beyond 5 cm should increase with larger initial tumor size in patients with small hepatomas. To ensure that these patients have a fair opportunity to receive a cadaveric organ, HCC-specific scores predicted by our model could be added to MELD scores of patients with HCC. [source]


Liver Transplantation for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Cirrhosis After Liver Resection: University of Bologna Experience

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2008
M. Del Gaudio
Liver resection (LR) for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with preserved liver function, employing liver transplantation (LT) as a salvage procedure (SLT) in the event of HCC recurrence, is a debated strategy. From 1996 to 2005, we treated 227 cirrhotic patients with HCC transplantable: 80 LRs and 147 LTs of 293 listed for transplantation. Among 80 patients eligible for transplantation who underwent LR, 39 (49%) developed HCC recurrence and 12/39 (31%) of these patients presented HCC recurrence outside Milan criteria. Only 10 of the 39 patients underwent LT, a transplantation rate of 26% of patients with HCC recurrence. According to intention-to-treat analysis of transplantable HCC patients who underwent LR (n = 80), compared to all those listed for transplantation (n = 293), 5-year overall survival was 66% in the LR group versus 58% in patients listed for LT, respectively (p = NS); 5-year disease-free survival was 41% in the LR group versus 54% in patients listed for LT (p = NS). Comparable 5-year overall (62% vs. 73%, p = NS) and disease-free (48% vs. 71%, p = NS) survival rates were obtained for SLT and primary LT for HCC, respectively. LR is a valid treatment for small HCC and in the event of recurrence, SLT is a safe and effective procedure. [source]


Microsatellite distribution and indication for locoregional therapy in small hepatocellular carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 2 2005
Atsushi Sasaki M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND Intrahepatic disease recurrence is observed frequently after locoregional therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indication for locoregional therapy is still unclear. To clarify the indication for locoregional therapy for small HCC tumors, the authors measured the distance of microsatellites from the main tumor and analyzed the relation between this distance and clinicopathologic factors. METHODS The authors retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with small HCC tumors (, 5 cm in dimension) treated by curative hepatectomy. A microsatellite was defined as invasion into the portal vein or intrahepatic metastasis, and the distance from the main tumor to the most distant microsatellite was determined under light microscopy. The current study investigated the relation between microsatellite distance (0 mm if none present, , 5 mm, and > 5 mm) and clinicopathologic factors, as well as overall and disease-free survival rates after hepatectomy. RESULTS Of the 100 patients, 46 had microsatellites with a mean distance of 9.9 mm (median, 5.0 mm). Of the clinicopathologic factors investigated, tumor grade and preoperative ,-fetoprotein level significantly correlated with the presence of a microsatellite. Tumor size and distance to the microsatellite were significantly correlated. All but 1 tumor associated with a microsatellite distance > 5 mm was a high-grade tumor > 25 mm in greatest dimension. The overall survival rate of patients with a microsatellite distance of > 5 mm was lower than that of patients with a microsatellite distance < 5 mm. CONCLUSIONS Locoregional therapy, including limited resection and ablation therapies, was appropriate for patients with low-grade HCC tumors or with tumors < 25 mm in diameter. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source]


Angiographic subsegmentectomy for the treatment of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 4 2003
Shozo Iwamoto M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND The therapeutic results of nonsurgical treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been poor, and improved treatments are needed. The authors recently developed a new technique called angiographic subsegmentectomy for the treatment of patients with small HCC. METHODS The technique includes confirming the diagnosis of small HCC using a helical computed tomography (CT) scan combined with an angiography system for identifying the tumor-feeding subsegmental hepatic artery, injecting lipiodol containing farmorubicin until it enters the portal vein in sufficient amounts, and injecting sponge particles into the hepatic artery for embolization. Occlusion of the hepatic artery with gel particles and occlusion of the portal vein by lipiodol induce infarction necrosis, which encompasses the entire tumor and the surrounding liver parenchyma. RESULTS The treatment was given to 23 patients with 30 HCC tumors that measured < 20 mm in greatest dimension. It was successful in all 23 patients. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels were elevated to a significant level in the majority of patients after treatment, mild ascites developed in three patients, and the patients complained of pain and fever posttreatment that were controlled readily. No patients developed hepatic failure. Only one patient developed recurrent disease posttreatment at 1.5 years, for a recurrence rate of 5% at 1 year and 6.6% at 1.5 years, a rate that has never been achieved with other treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS Angiographic subsegmentectomy is a novel treatment for patients with small HCC. The results indicated that it is equivalent to undergoing small resection and is superior to conventional arterial chemoembolization. Cancer 2003;97:1051,6. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11106 [source]


Validation of the HCC-MELD for dropout probability in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2008
Teh-Ia Huo
Abstract:,Background:, The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is used in prioritizing cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation. Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are eligible candidates. An HCC-MELD equation was recently proposed to predict the dropout rate of HCC patients on the waiting list. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of this equation. Methods:, We investigated 390 patients with small HCC who were candidates for liver transplantation and underwent locoregional therapy. Results:, The estimated probability of dropout according to the equation was 8.2% for T1 stage and 13.5% for T2 stage HCC (p < 0.0001). The actual disease progression rate at three months was 2.1% for T1 and 3.0% for T2 stage HCC. At six months, the progression rate was 5.3% for T1 stage and 6.8% for T2 stage. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the HCC-MELD equation was 0.81 at three months and 0.80 at six months. Patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) had significantly lower dropout rates compared with other treatment groups according to the equation (p = 0.0007). The actual tumor progression rate was also the lowest for the RFA group at both three and six months. Conclusion:, The HCC-MELD equation is a feasible predictive model for patients with small HCC undergoing locoregional therapy. [source]


Prognostic factors in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma treated by percutaneous ethanol injection

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 11 2002
Hitoshi Kuriyama
Abstract Background: Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) has been widely performed and is now accepted as a viable alternative to hepatic resection in patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). However, only a few extensive investigations have been conducted regarding the prognostic factors for HCC patients treated with PEI. Methods: We investigated the prognostic factors in 100 patients with small HCC who had undergone PEI. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model were used to determine the factors potentially related to survival. For clinical application, a prognostic index was calculated based on the regression coefficients of the independent variables identified from the multivariate analysis. Results: Median survival time and 1, 3 and 5 year survival rates were 71 months and 100, 84 and 62%, respectively. Among the 15 potential prognostic variables investigated, only three variables, namely a serum albumin level ,,3.5 g/dL, the presence of tumor stain and a serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase level>,66 IU/L, were identified as factors independently associated with a shorter survival. A prognostic index based on the regression coefficients of these three factors was proposed to classify patients into three groups, those with a good (5 year survival rate 91%), intermediate (64%) and poor prognosis (22%). Conclusions: The results of the present study may be useful in predicting the survival of HCC patients treated with PEI and in the design and analysis of future clinical trials of PEI for HCC. © 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd [source]


Predicting the probability of progression-free survival in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2002
Steve J. Cheng
Allocation of cadaveric livers to patients based on such objective medical urgency data as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score may not benefit patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). To ensure that these patients have a fair opportunity of receiving a cadaveric organ, the risk for death caused by HCC and tumor progression beyond 5 cm should be considered. Using a Markov model, two hypothetical cohorts of patients with small hepatomas were assumed to have either (1) Gompertzian tumor growth, in which initial exponential growth decreases as tumor size increases; or (2) rapid exponential growth. The model tracked the number of patients who either died or had tumor progression beyond 5 cm. These results were used to back-calculate an equivalent MELD score for patients with small HCCs. All probabilities in the model were varied simultaneously using a Monte Carlo simulation. The Gompertzian growth model predicted that patients with a 1- and 4-cm tumor have 1-year progression-free survival rates of 70% (HCC-specific MELD score 6) and 66% (HCC-specific MELD score 8), respectively. When assuming rapid exponential growth, patients with a 1- and 4-cm tumor have progression-free survival rates of 69% (HCC-specific MELD score 6) and 12% (HCC-specific MELD score 24), respectively. Our model predicted that the risk for death caused by HCC or tumor progression beyond 5 cm should increase with larger initial tumor size in patients with small hepatomas. To ensure that these patients have a fair opportunity to receive a cadaveric organ, HCC-specific scores predicted by our model could be added to MELD scores of patients with HCC. [source]


Ductular reaction is helpful in defining early stromal invasion, small hepatocellular carcinomas, and dysplastic nodules

CANCER, Issue 5 2007
Young Nyun Park MD
Abstract BACKGROUND. Stromal invasion is 1 of the main features used to distinguish high-grade dysplastic nodules (DNs) from well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The authors hypothesized that ductular reaction (DR) takes place around noninvasive hepatocellular nodules but not within the stroma contiguous to invasive HCC. METHODS. DR/cytokeratin 7 (CK7)-positive patterns were evaluated in 105 resected small hepatic nodules according to the level of invasion. The nodules were classified histologically prior to immunostaining as noninvasive (large regenerative nodules, low-grade DNs, and high-grade DNs), minimally invasive (early HCCs with a vaguely nodular type), and overtly invasive (typical HCCs with a distinctly nodular type) in a review by expert pathologists, the current gold standard. Intranodular DR (inner DR) and DR around the nodule periphery (outer DR) were assessed separately on a semiquantitative scale from 0 to 4+. RESULTS. DR was 3 or 4+ in the majority of noninvasive nodules (inner DR, 81%; outer DR, 91%), whereas DR was 0 or 1+ in overtly invasive HCCs (inner DR, 96%; outer DR, 81%). Minimally invasive HCCs showed an intermediate DR pattern (2 or 3+ inner DR, 75%; 2+ outer DR, 67%). DR characteristically was absent at the stromal-invasive, leading edge of tumor cells in both minimally invasive HCCs (focal loss of DR/CK7) and overtly invasive HCCs (diffuse loss of DR/CK7). The DR patterns in 41 needle-biopsy samples were similar to the patterns observed in resected nodules. CONCLUSIONS. DR/CK7 immunostaining may help to identify small foci of invasion and to distinguish noninvasive, high-grade DNs from both minimally invasive and overtly invasive HCCs. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source]