Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

A W Hemming; D R Nelson; A I Reed

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Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

A W Hemming, D R Nelson and A I Reed

Minerva chirurgica, Vol.57(5), pp.575-585

10/2002

PMID: 12370659

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the commonest malignancies worldwide, and accounts for more than 1 million deaths annually. Identification of tumors early in the course of disease appears to be important for treatment, yet remains difficult to accomplish. Without treatment the prognosis is dismal with a median survival of 6-9 months. Partial hepatic resection is generally accepted as the treatment of choice for HCC with reported survival rates of up to 50% at 5 years. Unfortunately poor underlying liver function as well as tumor number or location preclude traditional hepatic resection in many cases. Total hepatectomy with transplantation (LT) has been advocated such cases, but the results have been variable. LT offers the advantage of radical tumor removal even in patients with multifocal disease or severe cirrhosis. Additionally, LT removes the possibility of metachronous lesions developing in the liver remnant and restores normal liver function. The critical limitation to advocating LT as primary oncotherapy in patients with HCC is the severe shortage of donor livers. Until organ availability improves, transplantation for HCC can only be offered to patients whose survival is predicted to be similar to that in patients transplanted for benign disease. This report reviews the current role and indications for liver transplantation as therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

United States - epidemiology

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology

Liver Transplantation

Humans

Liver - physiopathology

Hepatectomy

Incidence

Patient Selection

Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology

Liver Diseases - complications

Liver Neoplasms - pathology

Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis

Risk Factors

Tissue and Organ Procurement

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery

Liver Neoplasms - surgery

Forecasting

Diagnostic Imaging

Asia - epidemiology

Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology

Liver Diseases - surgery

Liver Diseases - physiopathology

Neoplasm Staging

Details

Title: Subtitle: Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma
Creators: A W Hemming - Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. hemmiaw@mail.surgery.ufl.edu
D R Nelson
A I Reed
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Minerva chirurgica, Vol.57(5), pp.575-585
Publisher: Italy
PMID: 12370659
ISSN: 0026-4733
Language: English
Date published: 10/2002
Academic Unit: Accounting; Surgery
Record Identifier: 9984051552602771

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