BACKGROUND/AIMS: In 231 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver resection from 1986 to 1992 to determine the significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 13 patients (5.6 per cent) with early recurrence within six months after hepatectomy. RESULTS: Preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were significantly higher in patients with early recurrence (p < 0.01). Postoperative histological examination revealed that there were significant correlations between patients with early recurrence and intrahepatic metastasis (p < 0.01), and portal vein infiltration (p < 0.01). There were significant correlations between patients with early recurrence and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis (p < 0.01), however, preoperative diagnosis of portal vein infiltration could not be detected enough. Eight (73%) of 11 patients with over 1000 ng/ml of AFP and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis had early recurrence (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients of hepatocellular carcinoma with over 1000 ng/ml of AFP and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis are the most important factors in the preoperative clinical data linked to early recurrence type of HCC after hepatectomy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In 231 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver resection from 1986 to 1992 to determine the significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 13 patients (5.6 per cent) with early recurrence within six months after hepatectomy. RESULTS: Preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were significantly higher in patients with early recurrence (p < 0.01). Postoperative histological examination revealed that there were significant correlations between patients with early recurrence and intrahepatic metastasis (p < 0.01), and portal vein infiltration (p < 0.01). There were significant correlations between patients with early recurrence and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis (p < 0.01), however, preoperative diagnosis of portal vein infiltration could not be detected enough. Eight (73%) of 11 patients with over 1000 ng/ml of AFP and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis had early recurrence (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients of hepatocellular carcinoma with over 1000 ng/ml of AFP and preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic metastasis are the most important factors in the preoperative clinical data linked to early recurrence type of HCC after hepatectomy.