Liver Transplantation in the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Absence of Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of liver transplantation (LT) in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurred in normal liver.Material and methods.  6 patients with unresectable HCC underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The long-term OLT results were compared with survival results of liver resection in patients with late stage HCC.Results.  Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common types of cancer, which occurs mainly in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic viral hepatitis. Only about 10 % of HCC develops in non-cirrhotic liver among young and somatically healthy patients. 1-, 3-, 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival in LT group was significantly better than in the control group.Conclusion.  LT is indicated for patients with unresectable HCC in non-cirrhotic liver and its extrahepatic localization. A large tumor size and macrovascular invasion should not be a contraindication for LT in such patients.