Cryohepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma--results in 84 patients.

Background: Recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequent and is a major cause of a poor outcome. Most recurrence may occur from the spreading of the original lesion via the intrahepatic portal vein. Cryosurgery has been used for the treatment of various tumors for decades. The aim of this study was to determine whether cryohepatectomy is potentially beneficial in reducing the recuurence and prolonging survival.

Methods: The study included 84 patients who underwent cryohepatectomy, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) followed by the resection of the frozen tumor by conventional technique, for HCC and were closely follow-up after surgery. Recurrence and survival rates were calculated by the life-table method.

Results: The postoperative course of cryohepatectomy in all of the 84 patients was uneventful, there being no operative mortality or severe complications. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after cryohepatectomy were 98.7%, 83.9%, and 64.0%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence rates after cryohepatectomy were 15.1%, 30.1% and 39.0%, respectively.

Conclusions: Cryohepatectomy for HCC is a safe procedure and may be potentially beneficial in reducing recurrence and prolonging survival. More time is needed to further define whether this procedure will improve long-term survival as compared with conventional resection.