Outcome and pattern of recurrence after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with a normal liver compared to patients with a diseased liver.

Background/aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences existed in demography and outcome after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with a normal liver compared to patients with a diseased liver.

Methodology: Twenty-seven Caucasian patients with HCC in a histologically proven normal liver (NL group) in the Netherlands and 141 Asian patients with HCC in a diseased liver (DL group) in Japan underwent a curative liver resection. Patient and tumor characteristics, post-resectional disease-free, overall survival rates and pattern of recurrence were investigated.