Prognoses, outcomes, and clinicopathological characteristics of very elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy

Objectives The aim was to evaluate the prognostic factors, clinicopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes after hepatectomy in very elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods We analyzed 796 patients with HCC from 2000 to 2017. Patients aged 80 years or older were classified into the very elderly group (group VE;n= 49); patients younger than 80 years old and aged 65 years or older were classified into the elderly group (group E;n= 363), and patients younger than 65 years old were classified into the young group (group Y;n= 384). We investigated the prognoses, clinicopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes after hepatectomy. Results The number of surgical procedures and outcomes, including morbidities, was not significantly different. Groups VE, E, and Y showed similar prognoses in terms of both survival and recurrence. In group VE, prothrombin activity (PA) < 80% and PIVKA-II >= 400 mAU/ml were unfavorable factors for survival, and PIVKA-II >= 400 mAU/ml and the presence of portal venous invasion (PVI), hepatic venous invasion, and fibrosis were unfavorable factors for recurrence. In group E, ChE < 180 IU/l, AFP >= 20 ng/ml, tumor size >= 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, PVI, and hepatic venous invasion (HVI) were unfavorable factors for survival, and ChE < 180 IU/l, tumor size >= 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, PVI, and HVI were unfavorable factors for recurrence. In group Y, AFP >= 20 ng/ml, the presence of multiple tumors, poor differentiation, PVI, HVI, and blood loss >= 400 ml were unfavorable factors for survival, and PA < 80%, albumin < 3.5 g/dl, AFP >= 20 ng/ml, tumor size >= 10 cm, and the presence of multiple tumors, poor differentiation, and PVI were unfavorable factors for recurrence. Conclusions Tumor factors might have limited influence on the prognosis of very elderly patients, and liver function reserve might be important for the long-term survival of very elderly patients. Hepatectomy can be performed safely, even in very elderly patients. Hepatectomy should not be avoided in very elderly patients with HCC if patients have a good general status because these patients have the same prognoses as nonelderly individuals.