Risk factors for different survival time after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To study the different risk factors for early and late death of patients after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） in order to provide evidence for its clinical intervention. Methods Clinical and pathological data about 174 patients who underwent resection of HCC at our department in January 1996-December 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into early death group（n=61, postoperative survival time≤2 years）, late death group（n=29, postoperative survival time ＜2 years≤5 years）, 5-year survival group（n=84, postoperative survival time≥5 years）. Risk factors and prognosis were compared and analyzed. Results Multifactor analysis showed that large blood vessels were invaded and HCC was poorly differentiated, and that HCC with a large diameter and males were the risk factor for early death while high serum GGT level was the risk factor for late death of HCC patients. Conclusion Early death of HCC patients is closely related with the risk factors for HCC and the patients should be treated after operation. Late death of HCC patients is related with the condition of liver disease, and serum GGT level may be a predictor for late death of HCC patients.