Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial tumor thrombus is uncommon but with a dismal prognosis.
Methods: By comprehensive retrieval of the pertinent literature published since 2000, 53 reports were collected with 187 patients recruited into this study. The quantitative data were expressed in mean±standard deviation with range and median values and were compared by independent samples t -test. The categorical variables were compared by Chi-square or Fisher exact test with continuity correction.
Results: The survival rate of patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization was 33.3% and that of surgical patients was 41.9%. The survival time of patients with transarterial chemoembolization treatment was longer than that of surgical patients, but lack of a statistical significance.
Conclusions: Even though advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial thrombus is an aggressive malignancy, the the present study showed that patient prognoses were improved and survival time was elongated with the advances of active treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization and surgical treatments. Active treatments are advised to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial tumor thrombus in order to improve patients’ survival.
Balloon-occluded chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study of safety, feasibility and outcomes
