Surgical treatments for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: Resection versus transplantation

Abstract

Liver resection (LR) and liver transplantation (LT) are the two principal curative options for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the optimal choice for individual patients remains uncertain. Recent meta-analyses suggest that LT confers superior long-term survival compared with LR, particularly when tumor burden meets transplant criteria and donor availability is sufficient. Although LT requires lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, patient-reported quality of life appears comparable between LT and LR. Overall, current evidence indicates that LT may offer improved survival without compromising quality of life in appropriately selected patients.