Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma after combined treatment with transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with inferior vena cava (IVC) invasion and metastatic lymph node metastases has a poor prognosis, and surgical resection is seldom indicated. We report how an initially unresectable HCC in a 36-year-old Chinese male with distant lymph node metastases and tumor thrombosis in the IVC was successfully downstaged and ultimately resected together with the IVC. After the disease had been downstaged, curative resection of the tumor and IVC was conducted with immediate reconstruction of the IVC. The patient has survived for more than 2 years after the surgery. In conclusion, tumor and IVC resection can cure metastatic HCC after downstaging treatment combining sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization.

Keywords

Downstaging / hepatocellular carcinoma / lymph node metastases / sorafenib / vascular resection

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