The relationship between gastroesophageal varices and bleeding and portal venous tumor thrombi in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the relationship between gastroesophageal varices and bleeding and portal venous tumor thrombi in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods From Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003, 84 HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombi were divided into Ⅰ～Ⅳ groups according to Ⅰ～Ⅳ types of tumor thrombi. The grade of gastroesophageal varices, the median survival time and the death cause for group Ⅰ～Ⅳ were retrospectively analyzed. Results Mild grade of gastroesophageal varices accounted for 64.7%, 6.0%, 85.7%,100%, respectively in group Ⅰ(n=17), Ⅱ(n=26),Ⅲ( n=35) and group Ⅳ(n=6),respectively. Severe varices were found in less than 5% in all four groups. The median survival periods were 10.1, 7.2, 5.7 and 3.0 months, respectively (P=0.0001). Most cases died from esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding and hepatic failure, with each accounting for about 50% of the mortality in all the 4 groups. Conclusions Portal venous tumor thrombi of HCC patients was not the major cause leading to esophageal and gastric varices and bleeding.