Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: The response to preoperative transarterial chemoembolisation can predict the outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative therapy for patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The impact of preLT chemoembolisation (CE) on patient survival and incidence of recurrent HCC has been controversially discussed and remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CE prior to LT in patients with HCC. Between 1984 and 2004 167 patients (142m; 25f) underwent LT for HCC at our institution. The underlying liver disease was viral hepatitis in 87 (HCV 69, HBV 18), alcoholic liver cirrhosis in 49 and other diseases in 18 patients. According to Chi…