Recurrence-free Survival After Liver Transplantation Versus Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Role of High-risk MRI Features.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study aimed to evaluate recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after liver transplantation (LT) or liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and perform subgroup analysis for HCC with high-risk imaging findings for recurrence on preoperative liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; high-risk MRI features).

METHODS:

We included patients with HCC eligible for both LT and LR and received either of the treatments between June 2008 and February 2021 from 2 tertiary referral medical centers after propensity score-matching. RFS and OS were compared between LT and LR using Kaplan-Meier curves with the log-rank test.

RESULTS:

Propensity score-matching yielded 79 patients in the LT group and 142 patients in the LR group. High-risk MRI features were noted in 39 patients (49.4%) in the LT group and 98 (69.0%) in the LR group. The Kaplan-Meier curves for RFS and OS were not significantly different between the 2 treatments among the high-risk group (RFS, P  = 0.079; OS, P  = 0.755). Multivariable analysis showed that treatment type was not a prognostic factor for RFS and OS ( P  = 0.074 and 0.937, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

The advantage of LT over LR for RFS may be less evident among patients with high-risk MRI features.

• Authors: Dong Ik Cha, Jong Man Kim, Woo Kyoung Jeong, Nam-Joon Yi, Gyu-Seong Choi, Jinsoo Rhu, Kwang-Woong Lee, Dong Hyun Sinn, Jeong Ah Hwang, Won Jae Lee, Kyunga Kim, Kyung-Suk Suh, Jae-Won Joh
• Journal: Transplantation (Transplantation) Vol. 108 Issue 1 Pg. 215-224 (Jan 01 2024) ISSN: 1534-6080 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37287096 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (diagnostic imaging, surgery, pathology)
• Liver Transplantation (adverse effects, methods)
• Liver Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, surgery, pathology)
• Hepatectomy (adverse effects, methods)
• Retrospective Studies