Better Long-Term Prognosis: Comparison Between Surgery and TACE as Initial Treatment for Operable Huge HCCs (≥10 cm) After More Than 5 Years of Follow Up

The objective of this study was to research the long-term survival difference between surgery and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for operatable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≥10 cm. Little data are available comparing surgical resection with nonsurgical treatment in the management of very large HCCs (≥10 cm). We proposed to directly compare patients' 5-year survival rates after surgical resection or TACE of these tumors. Between January 2004 and June 2009, 16 patients with HCCs ≥ 10 cm underwent hepatic resection, and 9 received TACE. The patients were followed for 5 years or longer. The median follow-up period was 55.6 months. The median survival time was significantly longer in the resection group than in the TACE group (30.2 versus 9.33 months; P = 0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for patients in the resection group also were significantly better than for patients in the TACE group (operative group: 57.8%, 36.1%, and 28.9%, TACE group: 33.3%, 11.1%, and 0%, respectively). Surgical resection as initial treatment for resectable HCCs ≥10 cm has a better long-term survival outcome than does TACE.