Role of splenectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and hypersplenism

Predictors of portal vein thrombosis after simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Although postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a frequent complication of splenectomy, few studies have examined PVT after simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy (HS). The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for and characteristics of PVT after HS.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included 102 patients, including 76 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 26 without, who underwent HS between April 2004 and April 2021. The incidence and location of postoperative PVT detected on contrast-enhanced CT 1 week after surgery were analyzed. In addition, pre- and intraoperative parameters were compared between patients with postoperative PVT and those without in order to determine risk factors for PVT after HS.

RESULTS

Among the 102 patients, 29 (28.4 %), including 32.9 % with LC and 15.4 % without LC, developed PVT after surgery. Among the 29 patients with PVT, 21 (72.4 %), 4 (13.8 %), and 4 (13.8 %) developed thrombus in the intrahepatic portal vein only, extrahepatic portal vein only, and both the extra- and intrahepatic portal veins, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative splenic vein dilatation was an independent risk factor for PVT after HS (odds ratio: 1.53, 95 % confidence interval: 1.156-2.026, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that splenic vein dilatation is an independent risk factor for PVT after simultaneous HS, and that PVT after HS occurs more frequently in the intrahepatic portal vein. After HS for cases with dilated splenic veins, we should pay particular attention to the PVT development in the intrahepatic portal vein regardless of the type of liver resection.

Current status of radical laparoscopy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma with portal hypertension

The laparoscopic technique is clinically effective in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal hypertension (PHT). However, existing studies lack systematic arrangement and induction. Here, we review the latest research advancement in laparoscopic technique for treatment of HCC with PHT, based on published literature and our single-institution experience. Our single-center experience reveals no statistical difference in both short- and long-term prognosis of HCC patients after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), regardless of whether they suffer from PHT, which is consistent with previous studies on the use of LLR for HCC with PHT. Retrieval outcomes indicate existence of short- and long-term prognostic superiority, following laparoscopic treatment, relative to non-laparoscopic treatment. Besides that, LLR offers long-term prognostic advantage compared to laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation. In addition, we review the previous literature and propose corresponding perspectives on the therapy of hypersplenism, the utilization of Pringle maneuver, and the adoption of anatomical hepatectomy during radical laparoscopic treatment. HCC with PHT is not the "forbidden zone" of radical laparoscopic treatment. However, patients’ preoperative liver function should be adequately estimated.

Does splenectomy significantly improve the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hypersplenism? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with hypersplenism can benefit from splenectomy is unclear. This study aimed at exploring the efficacy and safety of concurrent splenectomy for HCC patients with hypersplenism.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to compare data on the combination of hepatectomy or transhepatic arterial infusion (TAI) with splenectomy (the splenectomy group) with data on hepatectomy or TAI alone (the non-splenectomy group) for the treatment of HCC with hypersplenism. Prospective clinical trials or retrospective cohort studies from inception to May 10, 2020 were considered eligible for this analysis. The relevant outcomes, including patients’ demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, perioperative indices and long-term outcomes, were independently extracted by two investigators. Publication bias for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was qualitatively assessed by funnel plots and quantitatively evaluated by Begg’s and Egger’s tests.

Results

Nine retrospective studies including 1,650 patients were analyzed. Short-term outcomes suggested that the incidence rate of postoperative complications, including portal or splenic vein thrombosis [odds ratio (OR) =26.28, P<0.001] and pancreatic injury (OR =14.89, P=0.001), was significantly higher in the splenectomy group, whereas the perioperative mortality rate was similar between the splenectomy and non-splenectomy groups (P=0.541). Long-term outcomes indicated that the occurrence of variceal re-hemorrhage (OR =0.31, P<0.001) and tumor progress or recurrence (OR =0.62, P=0.001) was markedly reduced for patients who underwent splenectomy, while the long-term mortality rates were not statistically different between the two groups (P=0.087). The prognostic evaluation revealed that the OS and DFS were comparable between the splenectomy and non-splenectomy groups [for OS: hazard ratio (HR) =0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53–1.13; for DFS: HR =0.87, 95% CI: 0.63–1.19]. Funnel plots suggested an HRs symmetric distribution for OS and DFS. Begg’s and Egger’s tests confirmed that there was no significant HR publication bias for OS and DFS.

Conclusions

Due to the significant progress in surgical techniques and perioperative care, concomitant splenectomy should be considered as an optional treatment for some HCC patients with hypersplenism.

Lusutrombopag Is Safe and Efficacious for Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Patients With and Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to chronic liver disease often require invasive procedures but frequently have thrombocytopenia. Lusutrombopag is an agonist of the thrombopoietin receptor that activates platelet production.

METHODS

We performed an integrated analysis of data from 2 phase 3 trials (L-PLUS 1, Japan, October 2013 to May 2014, and L-PLUS 2, global, June 2015 to April 2017) that compared the efficacy and safety of lusutrombopag with placebo in patients with chronic liver disease, with and without HCC. Our analysis included patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grades of 0 or 1, Child-Pugh classes A or B, and a platelet count less than 50 × 10⁹/L who were scheduled to undergo invasive procedures in 9 to 14 days. Patients received lusutrombopag (3 mg) or placebo daily for 7 days or fewer before an invasive procedure. Imaging studies assessed treatment-emergent adverse events, including asymptomatic portal vein thrombosis. The primary end point was no requirement for platelet transfusion before the invasive procedure and rescue therapies for bleeding 7 days or fewer after the invasive procedure.

RESULTS

The per-protocol population included 270 patients (95 with HCC). A significantly higher proportion of patients with HCC who received lusutrombopag achieved the primary end point (68.0%) vs patients who received placebo (8.9%) (P < .0001); in patients without HCC, these proportions were 77.0% vs 21.6% (P < .0001). Lusutrombopag reduced the need for platelet transfusions, increased platelet counts for 3 weeks, and reduced the number of bleeding events in patients with and without HCC compared with placebo. Risk of thrombosis was similar to that of placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with and without HCC receiving lusutrombopag had a reduction in the number of platelet transfusions before invasive procedures compared with patients receiving placebo, with no increase in thrombosis or bleeding. L-PLUS 1: JapicCTI-132323; L-PLUS 2: ClinicalTrials.gov number no: NCT02389621.

Safety of Simultaneous Hepatectomy and Splenectomy in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Complicated with Hypersplenism: A Meta-analysis

Background

We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy (HS) with hepatectomy alone (HA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hypersplenism.

Materials and Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Wanfang Data through March 1, 2018, with no limits. Two investigators independently screened all retrieved studies. The investigators of the original publications were contacted if required information was absent. All the included studies were managed by EndNote X7. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale judgment. Extracted data for each endpoint were analyzed by using STATA 12.0 software.

Results

Thirteen studies, including a total of 1468 patients, comparing the effects of HS with HA were pooled in this meta-analysis. Outcomes including postoperative complications, perioperative mortality, intraoperative blood transfusion, and albumin (ALB) content at postoperation day (POD) 7 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Simultaneous approaches significantly promoted 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates, prolonged operation time, aggravated intraoperative blood loss, increased white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts at POD 7, and lowered total bilirubin (T-Bil) contents at POD 1 and 7.

Conclusion

Compared to HA, HS is safer and more effective in ameliorating liver function and improving survival of HCC patients complicated with hypersplenism. This trial is registered with CRD42018093779.

Effect of low-dose aspirin administration on long-term survival of cirrhotic patients after splenectomy: A retrospective single-center study

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Portal vein thrombosis is not uncommon after splenectomy in cirrhotic patients, and many such patients take oral anticoagulants including aspirin. However, the long-term impact of postoperative aspirin on cirrhotic patients after splenectomy remains unknown.

AIM

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin administration on the development of HCC and long-term survival of cirrhotic patients after splenectomy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 264 adult patients with viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis who underwent splenectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2000 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Among these patients, 59 who started taking 100 mg/d aspirin within seven days were enrolled in the aspirin group. The incidence of HCC and overall survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 41 (15.53%) patients developed HCC and 37 (14.02%) died due to end-stage liver diseases or other serious complications. Postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin therapy reduced the incidence of HCC from 19.02% to 3.40% after splenectomy (log-rank test, P = 0.028). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that not undertaking postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin therapy [odds ratio (OR) = 6.211, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.142-27.324, P = 0.016] was the only independent risk factor for the development of HCC. Similarly, patients in the aspirin group survived longer than those in the control group (log-rank test, P = 0.041). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the only factor that independently associated with improved overall survival was postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin therapy [OR = 0.218, 95%CI: 0.049-0.960, P = 0.044].

CONCLUSION

In patients with viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis, long-term post-splenectomy administration of low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of HCC and improves the long-term overall survival.

Simultaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with laparoscopic splenectomy: a safe and effective way for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with cirrhosis and hypersplenism

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of simultaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with laparoscopic splenectomy (Lap-Sp) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with cirrhosis and hypersplenism.Material and methods: Between January 2013 and June 2014, 42 patients with primary HCC complicated with cirrhosis and hypersplenism who underwent simultaneous RFA combined with Lap-Sp were enrolled at the Department of General Surgery, Beijing Di Tan Hospital. The median number of tumors ablated using RFA was one (range 1-3), and the median sum of the maximum diameter of tumors was 2.5 cm (range 1.2-5.4 cm). The related indicators before and after surgery, complications, and long-term effects were retrospectively analyzed.Results: The median operative time for 42 patients undergoing simultaneous RFA combined with Lap-Sp was 4.5 h (range 2.5-8.5 h), and the median blood loss was 120 mL (range 5-2200 mL). The incidence of moderate-to-severe postoperative complications and the perioperative mortality after surgery were 31.0 and 0%, respectively. The disease-free survival rate for one, three, and five years was 73.8, 19.7, and 16.4%, respectively. The overall survival rate was 90.5, 73.3, and 60.4%, respectively.Conclusion: Simultaneous RFA combined with Lap-Sp was safe and effective for patients with HCC complicated with cirrhosis and hypersplenism.

Synchronous hepatectomy and splenectomy vs hepatectomy for selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and clinically significant portal hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

 This review aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of synchronous hepatectomy and splenectomy for selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and clinically significant portal hypertension compared to hepatectomy alone. A systematic search in electronic databases was conducted. A total of 8 studies including 1445 patients were reviewed. While perioperative safety was satisfactory, synchronous hepatectomy and splenectomy were associated with a significant improvement of 5-year overall survival (odds ratio = 1.81; 95% confidence interval: 1.35, 2.42; P < 0.0001).

Splenectomy for breast carcinoma diffusely metastatic to the spleen presenting as severe transfusion-dependent anaemia and thrombocytopaenia

We report a 48-year-old woman with metastatic infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast. Though her metastatic disease remained stable, she was repeatedly admitted for symptomatic anaemia and treated by red blood cell and platelet transfusions with increasing frequency as time elapsed. Abdominal examination and ultrasound revealed splenomegaly (27 cm span). A bone marrow biopsy showed fibrosis and foci of metastatic carcinoma. Splenectomy ameliorated her transfusion-dependent anaemia and thrombocytopaenia. Histopathology revealed multiple foci of metastatic carcinoma and scattered foci of extramedullary haematopoiesis. Differential diagnosis of anaemia and thrombocytopaenia in patients with cancer include bone morrow involvement by cancer cells, iron-deficiency anaemia, microangiopathies and chemotherapy suppression of haematopoiesis. Splenic involvement with cancer is common in patients with multivisceral disease. Many may regard transfusion-dependent severe anaemia and thrombocytopaenia as an end-stage disease in these patients. Nevertheless, palliative splenectomy should be considered in patients with possible hypersplenism who will otherwise survive for a relatively prolonged period of time.

Repeated Autologous Bone Marrow Transfusion through Portal Vein for Treating Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis after Splenectomy

Objective

This study is aimed at examining the impact of repeated intraportal autologous bone marrow transfusion (ABMT) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis after splenectomy.

Methods

A total of 25 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis undergoing splenectomy were divided into ABMT and control groups. The portal vein was cannulated intraoperatively using Celsite Implantofix through the right gastroomental vein. Both groups were given a routine medical treatment. Then, 18 mL of autologous bone marrow was transfused through the port in the patients of the ABMT group 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after laminectomy, while nothing was given to the control group. All patients were monitored for adverse events. Liver function tests, including serum albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TB), prothrombin activity (PTA), cholinesterase (CHE), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), were conducted before surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.

Results

Significant improvements in ALB, ALT, and CHE levels and decreased LSM were observed in the ABMT group compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). TB and PTA improved in both groups but with no significant differences between the groups. No significant changes were observed in AFP in the control group, but it decreased in the ABMT group. No major adverse effects were noted during the follow-up period in the patients of either group.

Conclusions

Repeated intraportal ABMT was clinically safe, and liver function of patients significantly improved. Therefore, this therapy has the potential to treat patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis after splenectomy. This trial was registered with the identification number of ChiCTR-ONC-17012592.

The prognostic value of prognostic nutritional index in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Background and aims

The clinical value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been investigated in previous studies, but the results remain controversial. Here we present a meta-analysis to systematically review the association between PNI and HCC prognosis.

Method

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Data were abstracted independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the prognostic and clinic-pathological values of PNI in HCC patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted to estimate the association of PNI with survival and clinic-pathological characteristics, respectively.

Results

A total of eleven studies involving 3165 patients were analyzed. The pooled results indicated that low PNI is a significant predictor of poor 1-year, 3-year, 5-year OS (OR, 2.91, 4.05, 3.65; 95%CI, 2.30 to 3.70, 3.27 to 5.03,2.96–4.50; P = 0.14,0.22,0.11 respectively) and disease-free survival (DFS) (OR,2.35, 2.57, 2.75; 95%CI, 1.71 to 3.23, 1.89 to 3.49,2.01 to 3.75; P = 0.39,0.04,0.11, respectively). Moreover, PNI is significantly associated with serum AFP, tumor recurrence, tumor size and TNM stages in HCC patients. However, PNI is not significantly associated with tumor number and the incidence of cirrhosis in HCC patients.

Conclusions

PNI is an independent predictive indicator of survival and associated with serum AFP, tumor recurrence, tumor size and TNM stages in HCC patients.

Laparoscopic RFA with splenectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is complicated and challenging because of the frequent presence of cirrhosis. Therefore, we propose a novel surgical approach to minimize the invasiveness and risk in patients with HCC, hypersplenism, and esophagogastric varices.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study carried out in 25 patients with HCC and hypersplenism and who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic-guided radio-frequency ablation and laparoscopic splenectomy with endoscopic variceal ligation. Tumor size was restricted to a single nodule of <3 cm. Characteristics of the patients (cirrhosis etiology, liver function, tumor size, spleen size), surgery (complications, blood loss, time of stay), and follow-up (recurrence and survival) were examined.

RESULTS

Mean operative time was 128 ± 18 min. Mean blood loss was 206 ± 57 mL. Length of stay was 7.0 ± 1.5 days. Mean total costs were 8064 USD. Cytopenia and thrombocytopenia recovered quickly after surgery. No procedure was converted to open surgery. Two patients showed worsening liver function after surgery, three patients showed worsening of ascites, and five patients suffered from portal vein thrombosis. The 1-year tumor-free survival was 78.8 %, and the 21-month tumor-free survival was 61.4 %. According to a literature review, these outcomes were comparable to those of simultaneous open hepatic resection and splenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic-guided radio-frequency ablation with laparoscopic splenectomy and endoscopic variceal ligation could be an available technique for patients with HCC <3 cm, hypersplenism, and esophagogastric varices. This approach may help to minimize the surgical risks and results in a fast increase in platelet counts with an acceptable rate of complications.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy for the Elderly Liver Cirrhotic Patients With Hypersplenism: A Retrospective Comparable Study

A growing body of evidence has supported the benefits of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) for hypersplenism due to liver cirrhosis. With the increased proportion of elderly persons worldwide, it is necessary to investigate the risks and benefits of LS in elderly liver cirrhotic patients.From September 2003 to March 2012, LS and open splenectomy (OS) were performed for 21 (Group 1) and 19 (Group 3) patients, respectively, all of whom were 65 years of age and older; in addition, 39 patients who were <65 years old were treated with LS and referred to as Group 2. Data (i.e., demographic characteristics and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative information) were retrospectively collected. Between-group comparisons were performed for the above-mentioned data.Compared with the patients in Group 3, the patients in Group 1 required longer operative times, fewer transfusions, less intensive care, a shorter postoperative course, and a shorter time to the first oral intake, and they had less blood loss and fewer postoperative short-term complications. During the follow-up period, compared with the preoperative status, significant changes in hemoglobin, leukocyte, platelet, and albumin levels were observed in all groups, whereas changes in the total BILirubin (BIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were inconspicuous.Patients >65 years of age with hypersplenism caused by liver cirrhosis can safely undergo LS.

Surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with variceal bleeding: The eastern experience

BACKGROUND

Variceal bleeding can be the first manifestation of patients with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and effective treatments deserve to be explored for these patients.

METHODS

A prospectively collected database of HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy identified 75 patients who presented with variceal bleeding. Among them, 31 patients underwent concomitant Hassab's operation. The clinical variables and outcomes were compared between the Hassab and non-Hassab groups.

RESULTS

The postoperative morbidity and 90-days mortality were 44.0% and 6.7% respectively. Variceal re-bleeding and tumor recurrence occurred in 28.8% and 52.1% of surviving patients after surgery, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 87.7, 66.8, and 50.3%. There were no significant differences in morbidity, mortality and postoperative recurrence between the Hassab and non-Hassab groups. However, patients in the Hassab group had significantly higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates (P = 0.038), and significantly lower rate of re-bleeding (13.3% vs. 39.5%, P = 0.014) than those in the non-Hassab group. On multivariable analysis, concomitant Hassab's operation was independently predicted longer overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Liver resection could safely be performed in selected patients with HCC who presented with variceal bleeding, and concomitant Hassab's operation may improve long-term prognosis for these patients.

Simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy versus hepatectomy alone for hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by hypersplenism: a meta-analysis

Background

This study systematically compared the efficacy and safety of simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy (HS) with hepatectomy (H) alone in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hypersplenism.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched by two independent researchers through to March 31, 2015 to identify relevant studies. All the extracted literature were managed by Bibliographic citation management software. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale judgment. The data were analyzed using RevMan5.2 software.

Results

Eight studies including a total of 761 patients with HCC and hypersplenism (360 in the HS group, 401 in the H group) were finally included in the analysis. Outcomes, including postoperative complications, perioperative mortality, operation time, 5-year survival rate, and need for blood transfusion did not differ significantly between the two groups. HS was associated with significantly more intraoperative bleeding (mean difference [MD] 57.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 18.83–95.46, P=0.003), and CD4/CD8 ratio (MD 0.69, 95% CI 0.61–0.77, P<0.00001), CD4 subset, platelet count (MD 213.06, 95% CI 202.59–223.53, P<0.0001), white blood cell count (MD 4.85, 95% CI 4.58–5.13, P<0.0001), interferon-gamma levels (MD 18.52, 95% CI 13.93–23.11, P<0.00001), and interleukin-2 levels (MD 20.73, 95% CI 16.05–25.41, P<0.0001). In addition, lower CD8 subset (MD −7.85, 95% CI −9.07, −6.63, P<0.00001) and interleukin-10 levels (MD −18.56, 95% CI −22.61, −14.50, P<0.00001) were observed for HS.

Conclusion

We identified that simultaneous HS do not increase postoperative complications, operation time, or perioperative mortality in patients with HCC and hypersplenism. Simultaneous splenectomy can increase postoperative white blood cell and platelet counts significantly, improve blood coagulation, reduce the incidence of postoperative bleeding, and enhance immunity. Therefore, HS is safe, effective, and feasible for patients with HCC and hypersplenism.

Radiofrequency ablation plus devascularization is the preferred treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with esophageal varices

BACKGROUND

Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are associated with cirrhosis. Portal hypertension (PHT) and esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) can limit the patient's treatment options. Surgical therapy in such patients is challenging. We performed devascularization plus liver resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat HCC patients with concomitant EVB resulting from PHT secondary to cirrhosis. Such combined operations have never been reported for the management of HCC patients with variceal esophageal bleeding.

AIM

To evaluate two different treatment regimens for patients with HCC and EVB.

METHODS

We evaluated 35 BCLC stage 0/A patients with HCC and EVB who underwent either devascularization plus liver resection (Group A) or devascularization plus RFA (Group B). We reviewed the safety and outcomes of the two groups and assessed risk factors for patient survival and tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

Significant factors for overall survival were surgical approach and Child-Pugh classification. Child-Pugh classification was the only independent risk factor for overall postoperative survival [hazard ratio (HR) 8.320, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.739-39.799, P = 0.008]. Age was the only independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (HR 4.025, 95 % CI 1.343-12.062, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

RFA plus devascularization is the preferred treatment of HCC with EVB. RFA plus devascularization should be considered in Child-Pugh class A patients below 50 years of age.

Prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and hypersplenism after surgery: a single-center experience from the People's Republic of China

PURPOSE

As prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hypersplenism is rarely reported, this study examined prognostic factors for patients who underwent surgery for this condition.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed prognostic factors in 181 consecutive HCC patients using univariate and multivariate analyses, as well as subgroup analyses for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of two groups: one group who received splenectomies (Sp) and one group who did not (non-Sp).

RESULTS

1, 3, and 5 year OS rates were 88.4%, 67.1%, and 52.8%, respectively; corresponding DFS rates were 67.0%, 43.8%, and 31.6%, respectively. Age ≥55 years old, cigarette smoking, tumor size ≥5 cm, microvascular invasion, and Child-Pugh grade B (versus A) correlated significantly with OS (P<0.05). Interestingly, in patients with tumor lymph node metastasis (TNM) stage I disease, DFS of the Sp-group (median DFS, 24.1 months; n=34) was significantly lower than that of the non-Sp group (median DFS, 62.1 months; n=74), P=0.034; whereas at TNM stage II, OS of the Sp-group (median OS, 79.1 months; n=21) was significantly better than that of the non-Sp group (median OS, 23.3 months; n=30), P=0.018.

CONCLUSION

Hepatectomy without concomitant splenectomy can contribute to improved DFS of TNM stage I HCC patients with hypersplenism, whereas simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy can prolong OS for patients at TNM stage II.