Is hepatectomy feasible for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with clinically significant portal hypertension and beyond the Milan criteria?

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and beyond the Milan criteria undergoing hepatectomy were previously considered to be at high risk and to have a poor prognosis, especially for major hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of hepatectomy in those patients. METHODS: Data were collected on HCC patients with CSPH treated at a single centre from January 2010 to October 2021. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to balance the bias between groups. RESULTS: Of the included patients, 556 underwent hepatectomy and 172 underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Comparison of patients beyond the Milan criteria and those with Milan criteria underwent hepatectomy, the 90-day mortality and complication rates were similar in the two groups. However, the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients within the Milan criteria were significantly better than those beyond the Milan criteria (p < 0.001). In HCC patients beyond the Milan criteria, OS of performing hepatectomy was significantly longer than TACE (p < 0.001). Within HCC patients beyond the Milan criteria underwent hepatectomy, there was no significant difference in 90-day mortality and complications between minor and major hepatectomy in patients beyond the Milan criteria and no significant difference in RFS and OS after PSM. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatectomy for HCC patients with CSPH and beyond the Milan criteria is safe and feasible, with an acceptable prognosis and no significant difference between minor and major hepatectomy.