Controversies and evidence of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Publication date: Available online 11 October 2016 Source:BBA Clinical Author(s): Jian-Hong Zhong, Guido Torzilli, Hao Xing, Chao Li, Jun Han, Lei Liang, Han Zhang, Shu-Yang Dai, Le-Qun Li, Feng Shen, Tian Yang Symptoms of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often go unnoticed, so more than half of patients with primary HCC are diagnosed after their disease has already reached an intermediate or advanced stage, or after portal hypertension has appeared. While hepatic resection is widely recognized as a first-line therapy to treat very early or early HCC, its use in treating intermediate or advanced HCC or HCC involving portal hypertension remains controversial. Here we review PubMed-indexed literature covering the use of hepatic resection for such patients. The available evidence strongly suggests that, as a result of improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative care, hepatic resection can benefit many patients with intermediate or advanced HCC or with HCC associated with portal hypertension.

Source: BBA Clinical - October 12, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research