Is hepatectomy feasible for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with clinically significant portal hypertension and beyond the Milan criteria?

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2023 Nov;49(11):107073. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2023.107073. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and beyond the Milan criteria undergoing hepatectomy were previously considered to be at high risk and to have a poor prognosis, especially for major hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of hepatectomy in those patients.

Methods: Data were collected on HCC patients with CSPH treated at a single centre from January 2010 to October 2021. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to balance the bias between groups.

Results: Of the included patients, 556 underwent hepatectomy and 172 underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Comparison of patients beyond the Milan criteria and those with Milan criteria underwent hepatectomy, the 90-day mortality and complication rates were similar in the two groups. However, the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients within the Milan criteria were significantly better than those beyond the Milan criteria (p < 0.001). In HCC patients beyond the Milan criteria, OS of performing hepatectomy was significantly longer than TACE (p < 0.001). Within HCC patients beyond the Milan criteria underwent hepatectomy, there was no significant difference in 90-day mortality and complications between minor and major hepatectomy in patients beyond the Milan criteria and no significant difference in RFS and OS after PSM.

Conclusions: Hepatectomy for HCC patients with CSPH and beyond the Milan criteria is safe and feasible, with an acceptable prognosis and no significant difference between minor and major hepatectomy.

Keywords: Beyond Milan criteria; Clinically significant portal hypertension; Hepatectomy; Hepatocellular carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / complications
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / surgery
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic*
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal* / complications
  • Hypertension, Portal* / surgery
  • Liver Neoplasms* / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies