Factors that predict intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in 81 patients initially treated by percutaneous ethanol injection

Abstract

PEI is most effective as the initial treatment for patients with well-differentiated HCC when the tumor is less than 15 mm in greatest dimension. However, local recurrence depends predominantly on the biologic characteristics of the tumor, regardless of the efficacy of PEI. Surgical resection of HCC should be considered, especially for patients with mild liver dysfunction.