RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods HCC patients undergoing up-front hepatectomy (group A) were compared with those receiving TACE before hepatectomy (group B).Results Tumor size decreased significantly after TACE (t =3.3 1,P =0.021).The rates of tumor encapsulation and liver adhesions were significantly more often seen in group B.There were fewer tumor-residual and more frequent necrosis in group B.Operative time in group B was longer (t =2.71 ,P =0.046).The average blood loss and complication rate were of no difference between the two groups.The occurrence of pleural effusion and intrahepatic recurrence rate in group A was higher than group B (x2 =3.85 ,P =0.031) (x2 =2.76,P =0.046).The overall survival rate from the second year postoperative in group B was higher than group A (x2 =3.37, P =0.043).Conclusions TACE could diminish tumor, advance encapsulation and reduce tumor-residual.Preoperative TACE does not improve 1-, 2-, and 3-year tumor-free survival rates but improve 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates.