Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2008; 14(13): 1997-2002
Published online Apr 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1997
Long-term outcome of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for minimum-sized hepatocellular carcinoma
Miyuki Taniguchi, Soo Ryang Kim, Susumu Imoto, Hirotsugu Ikawa, Kenji Ando, Keiji Mita, Shuichi Fuki, Noriko Sasase, Toshiyuki Matsuoka, Masatoshi Kudo, Yoshitake Hayashi
Miyuki Taniguchi, Soo Ryang Kim, Susumu Imoto, Hirotsugu Ikawa, Kenji Ando, Keiji Mita, Shuichi Fuki, Noriko Sasase, Department of Gastroenterology, Kobe Asahi Hospital, Kobe, Japan
Toshiyuki Matsuoka, Department of Radiology, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan
Masatoshi Kudo, Department of Gastroenterology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan
Yoshitake Hayashi, Division of Molecular Medicine & Medical Genetics, International Center for Medical Research and Treatment (ICMRT), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
Correspondence to: Soo Ryang Kim, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kobe Asahi Hospital, 3-5-25 Bouoji-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe 653-0801, Japan. info@kobe-asahi-hp.com
Telephone: +81-78-6125151
Fax: +81-78-6125152
Received: October 18, 2007
Revised: January 9, 2008
Published online: April 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate long-term follow-up of minimum-sized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

METHODS: PEI was applied to 42 lesions in 31 patients (23 male and eight female) with HCC < 15 mm in diameter, over the past 15 years.

RESULTS: Overall survival rate was 74.1% at 3 years, 49.9% at 5 years, 27.2% at 7 years and 14.5% at 10 years. These results are superior to, or at least the same as those for hepatic resection and radiofrequency ablation. Survival was affected only by liver function, but not by sex, age, etiology of Hepatitis B virus or Hepatitis C virus, α-fetoprotein levels, arterial and portal blood flow, histological characteristics, and tumor multiplicity or size. Patients in Child-Pugh class A and B had 5-, 7- and 10-years survival rates of 76.0%, 42.2% and 15.8%, and 17.1%, 8.6% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSION: Treatment with PEI is best indicated for patients with HCC < 15 mm in Child-Pugh class A.

Keywords: Percutaneous ethanol injection; Interventional ablation; Ultrasound; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prognosis