The surgical management of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Uganda

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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common tumour in Uganda. Thirty-six of 120 patients with hepatoma admitted during a 2 1/2-year period were submitted to surgery. Major hepatic resections were performed in 10 patients and a further 10 cases had placement of a hepatic artery catheter for regional infusion chemotherapy. In the surgically resected and regionally infused patients survival was improved compared with those receiving either systemic chemotherapy or no treatment. Hepatic resection offers a chance of cure for a small minority of patients with hepatoma, whilst regional chemotherapy via a directly placed arterial catheter at the time of exploratory laparotomy may benefit others and is being further evaluated by a controlled trial.