This retrospective study was undertaken to obtain information relevant to the therapeutic strategy and therapeutic results in single hepatocellular carcinoma. Eighteen institutions located mainly in the Kinki District of Japan took part in this study.
The data of 3489 patients, who underwent different treatments between January 1, 1987 to March 31, 1998 were gathered and analyzed in this study.
The results are shown follows. (The end-point of clinical observation was July 31, 1998)
(1) Surgical resection was mainly performed for HCC of clinical stage I or II regardless of the tumor size.
(2) The difference in survival of patients with HCC measuring 2.0cm or less in diameter of clinical stage I or II between surgical resection and PEIT or PMCT was not statistically significant.
(3) Among patients treated with PEIT, ten-year survivors were observed in patients with HCC measuring 3.0cm or less in diameter.
(4) In patients with HCC measuring more than 3.0 cm in diameter and of clinical stage I or II, survival rates of surgical resection were superior to those of other treatments except two groups (TAE+PEIT, 3<tumor size≤5cm, clinical stage I and TAE, 5cm<tumor size, clinical stage II).
(5) Of ten-year survivors, 87% had been treated with surgical resection as a first treatment.
(6) Of patients with HCC measuring 5.0cm or less in diameter, approximately 40% died of causes other than HCC progression.
(7) There was a statistically significant difference in survival rates between institutions having 100 cases or more, and those with fewer than 100 cases.
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