Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.17 No.9(2-7)

Theme Controversies Over Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Title Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Child-Pugh Grade C Cirrhosis
Publish Date 2002/08
Author Kyosuke Kaji Department of Cancer Gene Therapy, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medicine
Author Shuichi Kaneko Department of Cancer Gene Therapy, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medicine
Author Kenichi Kobayashi Department of Cancer Gene Therapy, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medicine
[ Summary ] It is difficult to devise a method of treating Child C class patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Each case must be considered individually. In some cases, whose liver function is so poor that they are terminal, no treatment may be best. For other cases, some forms of treatment may improve the prognosis. The treatment must not worsen liver dysfunction, such that the method of treatment should be limited in some cases. It is noteworthy that there is no evidence of a better outcome with treatment of HCC in Child C patients. Liver transplantation must be the optimal treatment for such patients, because it treats not only HCC but also liver cirrhosis.
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