Treatment and Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Elderly Patients

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cancer in the digestive system based on survey of domestic cancer incidence, and the ratio of elderly aged 65 or older is expected to rise steadily, leading to a higher incidence of total hepatocellular carcinoma. The most important thing in treating these older patients with HCC is to assess the benefits and risks of the treatment in advance. In other words, the benefit of treatment should be greater than the reduction of survival period or maladjustment due to treatment. Based on these perspectives, we examined how the detailed treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma differs from that of general treatment in elderly patients. In conclusion, older age was not a definite prognostic factor of survival risk-benefit comparison in the most treatment modalities. However it should be carefully considered and approached about possible complications in treating HCC in elderly patients.