Hepatic resection and percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of selected patients with more than one hepatocellular carcinoma

Eur J Surg. 1999 Jul;165(7):647-51. doi: 10.1080/11024159950189690.

Abstract

Objective: To report our results in a selected series of patients who had two separate hepatocellular carcinomas that were not suitable for treatment by resection alone or percutaneous injection of ethanol alone, whom we treated by a combination of the two.

Design: Open study.

Setting: Teaching hospital, Italy.

Subjects: 11 patients with Child's grade A or B cirrhosis who had two hepatocellular carcinomas in distant segments of the liver.

Interventions: Percutaneous injection of ethanol into the smaller of the two nodules before, during, or after resection.

Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and recurrence.

Results: No patient died and there was one postoperative complication (atelectasis). During a median follow-up period of 24 months (range 8-48) two patients have developed recurrences (at 10 and 18 months).

Conclusion: Although we have studied only a few patients for a relatively short time this double approach may be an important treatment option for suitable patients with two hepatocellular carcinomas.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Embolization, Therapeutic*
  • Ethanol / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
  • Patient Selection*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Ethanol