Between 2000 and 2012, five hundred and ten patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing right-side hemihepatectomy were enrolled (PVE group, n = 162 and non-PVE group, n = 348). To equalize background factors, one-to-one propensity case-matched analysis and multivariate analysis were performed. Short- and long-term outcomes were evaluated.
Propensity score-matched patients, 148 in each group, were selected. The percentage of resected liver volume on admission was significantly greater in the PVE group (60.5% vs 48.3%; p < 0.001), but decreased considerably after PVE, from 60.5% to 50.3% (p < 0.001). The 5-year cumulative recurrence-free survival (36.4% vs 35.3%) and overall survival (58.6% vs 52.8%) rates were comparable. Extrahepatic recurrences were less common in the PVE group (18.1% vs 38.8%; p = 0.004). Independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival were morbidity (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.56), multiple tumors (HR = 1.97), red cell concentrate administration (HR = 1.57), older age (HR = 2.09), and massive portal invasion (HR = 2.33); and those for overall survival were morbidity (HR = 2.37), multiple tumors (HR = 1.71), and massive hepatic venous invasion (HR = 3.49).
Even though hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent preoperative PVE and right-side hemihepatectomy had a significantly larger resected liver volume on admission, they have a comparable long-term prognosis as patients with up front hepatectomy. In addition, PVE might decrease extrahepatic recurrences.