319 Background: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is a multi-potential treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study is to identify the efficacies of PVE for resectable and unresectable HCC patients. Methods: Until 2011, 668 HCC patients underwent hepatic resection and 102 HCC patients treated with PVE. PVE was performed with percutaneous and ipsilateral approach using ethanolamine oleate iopamidol. Preoperative future remnant liver volume (%LV) and functional liver volume (%FLV ) were assessed with our developed combined 99mTc- galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) scintigraphy (SPECT)/CT system. In unresectable cases chemoembolization (TACE) was repeated after PVE. Results: 1. Comparison of %LV and %FLV after right-PVE (n=40). %FLV before PVE was significantly lower in PVE group (38%) compared to non-PVE group (58%), but increased remarkably after PVE (from 38% to 55%, P < 0.0001). Right hepatectomy was successfully completed in 10 patients based on %FLV, instead of conventional %LV. 2. Long-term prognosis after right-hepatectomy with /without PVE (n=60). The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates in the PVE group were significantly greater than those in the non-PVE group (78% and 78% versus 20% and 0%, P = 0.01). The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in the PVE group were also higher than those in the non-PVE group (72% and 72% versus 57% and 12%, P <0.05). By multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for DFS were application of PVE (HR3.59), Multiple tumor (HR3.57), Fibrosis stage F3–4 (HR2.81), and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonists-II (PIVKA-II) ≥678AU/ml (HR2.69). 3. Prevention of intrahepatic metastases in unresectable HCCs in hemi-liver (n=40). The 3-year intrahepatic recurrence rates in the non-portal-embolized area was 58.8% and 81.8%, and the 5-year OS was 38.2% and 8.5%, in the PVE/TACE group and TACE group, respectively. The former rates were sinificantly higher (P<0.05). Conclusions: PVE can improve resectability, and might improve disease-free and overall survival for patients with both resectable and unresectable HCC.
Laparoscopic right hepatectomy following right portal vein embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma