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Hepatocellular carcinoma: indications for liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Mela M.,
Mancuso A.,
Burroughs A. K.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.17.s2.16.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , liver transplantation , economic shortage , transplantation , milan criteria , liver disease , carcinoma , curative treatment , surgery , domino , adjuvant , disease , linguistics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , government (linguistics) , catalysis
Summary The role of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma has evolved over the years and currently is one of the curative therapies for small tumours. The survival rates are similar with those for nonmalignant liver disease after transplantation. The treatment of small tumours eligible for both resection and transplantation depends on the experience of the transplant centre and the waiting time for a liver graft. With waiting times for liver transplant becoming gradually longer, prioritization of the tumour patients has been suggested. Adjuvant therapies may delay the tumour progression while patients wait for a transplant. The living donor and the domino liver transplantation are useful alternatives given the shortage of organs but the experience is still limited in the Western world and the selection for the domino livers is fairly restricted.