BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) is a rare form of primary liver carcinoma which contains characteristics of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of combined HCC-CC after curative resection. METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 2005, pathologically confirmed combined HCC-CC patients who underwent curative resection at Seoul National University Hospital were evaluated. We reviewed the medical records and evaluated the time-to-recurrence (TTR), overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors of combined HCC-CC. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were evaluated (M:F=27:4; median age, 61 years). According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer system, patients with stage I, II, III(A), III(B) and III(C) at the time of resection were 4, 16, 7, 2 and 2, respectively. Twenty six patients (83.9%) had tumor recurrence during the follow-up period and their median TTR was 5.7 months. Twenty one patients received additional treatment while 5 patients did not. As a result, median OS was 21.6 months and 3 year survival rate was 15.4%. In multivariate analysis, stage III than stage I or II at resection was an independent prognostic factor associated with shortened TTR (p<0.01). Older age (p=0.03), stage III(C) rather than stage I, II, III(A) at time of resection (p=0.02), and Child-Pugh B rather than A (p<0.01) were independent prognostic factors associated with shortened OS. CONCLUSIONS: Even after curative resections, patients with combined HCC-CC show poor prognosis with early recurrence and poor survival. However, surgical treatment should be warranted for relatively young patients in early stage with well preserved liver function.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*mortality/pathology/surgery ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*mortality/pathology/surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*mortality/pathology/surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*mortality/pathology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the lung is the most common site of extrahepatic spread from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the role of surgery for pulmonary metastasis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pulmonary resection in patients with pulmonary metastasis from HCC. METHODS: Between July 2000 and July 2004, a total of 6 patients with pulmonary metastasis from HCC underwent curative pulmonary resections. The patients were divided into two groups (Surgery group and Non-surgery group) according to the primary treatment modality of HCC. Medical records, imaging studies, and pathologic reports of the surgical specimens were reviewed. RESULTS: Three patients in the surgery group underwent pulmonary resections for a solitary metastasis after hepatectomy for HCC, and they are all still alive. One of the 3 patients developed a tumor recurrence in the chest wall after pulmonary resection. The survival time after diagnosis of HCC were 79, 122, and 54 months, respectively. The survival time after pulmonary metastatectomy were 49, 39, and 20 months in the three patients. Another 3 patients in the non-surgery group, received a pulmonary metastatectomy; they had either a complete response HCC or partial radiologic response. These 3 patients developed recurrent disease in the liver. One of 3 patients died. The survival time after diagnosis of HCC were 153, 83, 12 months. The survival time after pulmonary metastatectomy were 51, 4, 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical resections of a solitary pulmonary metastasis from HCC in highly selected patients might be an effective treatment modalities for prolonged survival.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/mortality/*secondary/*surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis/mortality/*secondary/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; *Pneumonectomy/mortality ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several risk factors, such as size and location, are related to local recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objectives of this study were to clarify factors related to prognosis. METHODS: From October 1999 to December 2002, we performed RFA for 107 consecutive patients with solitary HCC. We evaluated spiral computed tomography and serum alpha-fetoprotein level every 3 months after RFA. Seven possible factors for prognosis were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model: tumor size, tumor location, age, sex, etiology, platelet count, and Child-Pugh classification. Overall survival and disease free survival rate were estimated using the Kaplan- Meier method, and differences between two groups were compared using the log rank test. RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival after radiofrequency ablation were 90.5% at 12 months, 67.4% at 24 months and 46.4% at 36 months and disease free survival were 71.4%, 46.7% and 20.9%, respectively. Using the Cox proportional hazards regression model, it was shown that with regard to overall survival and disease free survival, Child-Pugh classification (P=0.001, P=0.026) and platelet count (P<0.001, P=0.002) were statistically significant factors. The other factors did not have a statistically significant relationship to overall survival and disease free survival. CONCLUSIONS: The size and location known as local recurrence factors were not statistically significant with regard to survival and disease free survival. The Child-Pugh classification and platelet count, that reflect the liver function at the time of RFA, were significant factors for prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/mortality/*surgery ; *Catheter Ablation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/mortality/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Markers, Biological/blood ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic value of CLIP score system for patients with resection of HCC.

METHODSA retrospective survey was carried out in 174 patients undergoing resection of HCC from January 1986 to June 1998. 153 of 174 patients with curative resection were followed up for at least three years. Disease-free survival rate was defined as the time relapsed from the date of image diagnosis and either the date of death or the date of the latest follow-up visit, with final evaluation at June 30, 2001. Recurrences were classified into early ( 3 year) recurrence. Risk factors for recurrences and prognostic factors for survival in each group were analyzed by the chi-square test, the Kalain-Meier estimation and the COX proportional hazards model respectively.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year cumulative disease free survival rates were 57.2%, 28.3%, 23.5%, 18.8% and 17.8%, respectively. The associated factors with early recurrence were as fellows: tumor size > 5 cm, microsatellite, venous invasion, tumor morphology, tumor extension, advanced TNM stages, CLIP scores, radical resection, and resection margin, respectively. But both CLIP scores and Child stage were associated with late recurrence. Univariate survival curves analysis expressed that Child grades, radical resection, resection margin, tumor size, microsatellite, venous invasion, tumor morphology, tumor extension, TNM stages, and CLIP scores were associated with prognosis. The multivariate analysis by COX proportional hazards model, the independent prognostic factors for survival were radical resection, resection margin, and TNM stages.

CONCLUSIONSCLIP score, which takes into account both liver function and tumor extension, has displayed a unique superiority in predicting the tumor early and late recurrence and prognosis. It could be an useful tool in predicting the patient recurrence and prognosis with resection of HCC. Meanwhile, it may help physicians to decide the more appropriate management in advance for patients with HCC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; mortality ; surgery ; Child ; Data Collection ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate