MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study on patients with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the University Malaya Medical Centre between 2011 and 2014. Survival times were analysed using the Kaplan- Meier procedure and comparison between groups was done using the log rank test.
RESULTS: The data of 190 patients was analysed. Chronic hepatitis B was the most common aetiology for HCC (43.7%), but a large proportion was cryptogenic or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related (41.6%). Only 11.1% were diagnosed early (BCLC Stage 0-A) while majority were diagnosed at an intermediate stage (BCLC Stage B, 53.7%). The median survival rate was significantly different between the different groups when either of the staging systems was used (p<0.05 for all comparisons). However, the two staging systems lacked agreement (weighted kappa 0.519, 95%CI: 0.449, 0.589) with significant difference in median survival rates between BCLC Stage A and HKLC Stage 2, and between BCLC Stage C and HKLC Stage 4.
CONCLUSION: Both staging systems were able to stratify patients according to survival, but they only had moderate agreement with significant differences observed in two groups of the staging systems.
METHODOLOGY: Patients undergoing LC in a single centre were randomized into ICGFC-LC and conventional LC. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon and the time taken to achieve CVS from the time of gallbladder fundus retraction was measured. Difficulty level for each surgery was rated and analysed using a modified scoring system (Level 1- Easy to Level 4-Very difficult).
RESULTS: 63 patients were recruited where mean time (min) to achieve CVS was 22.3 ± 12.9 in ICGFC-LC (n = 30) and 22.8 ± 14.3 in conventional LC (p = 0.867). The time taken to achieve CVS was shorter in ICGFC-LC group across all difficulty levels, although not significant (p > 0.05). No major complication was observed in the study.
CONCLUSIONS: This study had shown ICGFC-LC reduces time to CVS across all difficulty levels but not statistically significant. ICGFC-LC maybe useful in difficult LC and in surgical training.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT04228835.
STUDY GRANT: UMMI Surgical - Karl Storz Distributor (Malaysia).
METHODS: From 2002 to 2011, 60.15% of 823 patients developed recurrence after hepatectomy for HCC. One hundred and two patients with recurrence underwent RFA (n = 42) or TACE (n = 60) for tumour size ≤5 cm and number of lesions ≤ 3 when tumours were not resectable or transplantable. Those with renal impairment, portal vein thrombosis and poor liver reserve were excluded. The primary outcome was overall survival, which was determined using log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier plots performed. Categorical data were analysed using the chi-square test and continuous variable were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test.
RESULTS: Demographics and primary tumour characteristics were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Overall survival (OS) after an initial hepatectomy and salvage treatment for recurrence was similar (P > 0.05) in both groups with a 5-year OS after salvage treatment for RFA and TACE at 24.1% and 25.7%, respectively. For patients with the second recurrence after salvage treatment, an interchangeable treatment strategy of RFA and TACE conferred a better survival outcome than a stand-alone treatment with RFA or TACE (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: RFA and TACE may be equally effective for intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy when the tumour size is ≤ 5 cm and ≤ 3 lesions when re-resection or salvage transplantation is not considered feasible.
METHODS: This is an analysis of prospectively collected data on potential donors for an adult LDLT programme, between January 2017 and December 2019.
RESULTS: Fifty-five donors for 33 potential recipients were evaluated. The mean age was 31.6 ± 8.5 years, 52.7% were female and the ethnic divisions were: Chinese (50.9%), Indian (25.5%) and Malay (23.6%). The mean body mass index (BMI) among potential donors was 25.1 ± 4.0 kg/m2; 25.5% of donors had normal BMI, 23.6% were overweight and 50.9% were obese. Using the CAP modality of Fibroscan®, we identified the following grades of hepatic steatosis: 36.6% S0, 19.5% S1, 2.4% S2 and 41.5% S3. The non-utilization rate of our donors was 74.5% (41/55) and the main reasons were significant hepatic steatosis and/or obesity. Compared to suitable donors, unsuitable donors had significantly greater mean BMI, mean CAP scores, higher rates of dyslipidaemia and NAFLD.
CONCLUSION: NAFLD and obesity represent major challenges to an emerging LDLT programme in Malaysia.