Tumor size assessment with ultrasound as a prognostic factor for patients with liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the assessment of tumor's size with ultrasound in research of prognosis of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Clinical data of 148 patients with HCC who underwent liver transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. Results One-, 2-,3-,and 5-year overall actuarial survival were 73.3% ,45.6% ,35.4% ,and 32.1%,respectively. One-,2-,3-,and 5-year overall recurrence-free survival were 70.7 %, 44.3 %, 38. 5%, and 34. 5%, respectively. The overall tumor recurrence rate was 43.2%. Univariate analysis indicates that (the Kaplan-Meier method with the Log-Rank test) the total tumor burden (TTB) (χ2=15.098,P=0.001) was found to be significantly affecting the actuarial survival. While TTB (χ2=29. 038, P<0.001) was for recurrence-free survival. In multivariate analysis (with the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model), TTB (R2=1.610, P =0. 008) was found to be an independent predictor of actuarial survival. On the other hand, TTB (R2 =2. 206, P<0.001) was identified as the prognostic factor independently related to recurrence-free survival. Conclusions TTB is an independent prognostic factor for patients with liver transplantation for HCC. Assessment of tumor size with ultrasound is beneficial to the evaluation of indication for liver transplantation when patients with HCC were concerned.