Objective: To investigate the value of liver transplantation for late hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: Thirty-six patients were treated by liver transplantation from August 2000 to February 2002, of which 15 patients had had advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and thirteen of these 15 patients were evaluated for results.
Results: The 1-year survival rate was 86% (6/7). Only one patient died of recurrence within 6 months. The tumor-free survival was 5 to 19 months. Till February 2002, two patients have survived for 10 months and 19 months with recurrence.
Conclusion: In our country, if the patients can afford liver transplantation, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma without extrahepatic metastasis is still indicated for liver transplantation, since some patients may survive relatively long.