Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Otherwise Eligible for Transplantation

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States has increased 75% in the last decade. Liver transplantation is gaining acceptance for the treatment of early HCC, even in patients with adequate liver function. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term outcome of patients with early HCC who would have been candidates for transplantation but were treated instead with partial hepatectomy. METHODS: From August 1989 to November 2001, 611 patients with HCC were evaluated at our institution and entered into a prospective database. There were 180 (29%) patients who underwent partial hepatectomy, of whom 36 (20%) satisfied the currently accepted criteria for transplantation: 2 or 3 lesions each