Prospective validation of ab initio liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma upon detection of risk factors for recurrence after resection.

Unlabelled: A decade ago we proposed to enlist for transplantation those patients with resected hepatocellular carcinoma in whom pathology registered pejorative histological markers (microvascular invasion and/or satellites; ab initio indication) and not wait for the appearance of recurrence. This study evaluates the outcome of this approach. From 1995 to 2012, 164 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent resection.

Prognosis prediction and staging.

Staging and prognosis assessment are critical steps in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This cancer is a complex disease usually associated with chronic liver disease, and any attempt to assess the prognosis should consider tumour burden, degree of liver function impairment and evaluation of cancer-related symptoms. In addition, for any staging system to be meaningful it has to link staging with treatment indication and this should be based on robust scientific data.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent and lethal neoplasia. Several studies have shown that HCC is the main cause of death in patients with cirrhosis. A better knowledge of the natural history of the tumor and the development of staging systems has allowed to refine the prognosis of the patients.

Predictive factors of abstinence in patients undergoing liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease.

Introduction: Alcoholic cirrhosis is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT) in western countries. A major concern about transplant patients due to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is alcoholic recidivism. Data concerning psycho-social characteristics of patients with 6 months of abstinence at initial evaluation for LT is scarce.