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Tsutsui et al. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:13 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.20 Page 5 of 11

Table 1. Patient characteristics, baseline liver function, and tumor characteristics: treatment group versus control group
Treatment group Control group
Variables (n = 13) (n = 36) P
Age (years)* 69 (50-81) 74 (50-78) 0.128
Gender (male/female) 10/3 29/7 1.000
Etiology
Hepatitis B carrier 1 6 0.298
Hepatitis C carrier 11 22
Others 1 8
Cirrhotic liver 10 16 0.054
Child-Pugh score at time of hepatectomy* 5.0 (5.0-6.0) 5.0 (5.0-6.0) 0.481
AFP level (ng/mL)* 6.6 (2.0-3921.0) 14.3 (2.0-2720.0) 0.504
DCP level (ng/mL)* 130 (13-3252) 74 (1.0-5940) 0.548
Tumor diameter (mm)* 27.0 (14.0-50.0) 25.0 (10.0-58.0) 0.666
Tumor number* 1 (1-2) 1 (1-3) 0.708
Presence of portal vein tumor thrombosis (Vp2-4) 0 0 1.000
Presence of satellite nodules 6 12 0.411
TNM pathological staging (stage I/II/IIIA/IIIB/IIIC/IV) 3/10/0/0/0/0 15/19/2/0/0/0 0.278
*Median with range. AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; DCP: des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin; TNM: tumor nodes metastasis [6th edition of the
American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging]

Table 2. Outcomes of temporary indwelling catheter system implantation: treatment group
Variables n
Puncture region 13/0/0
(left brachial artery/right femoral artery/others)
Procedure time (min)* 80 (43-180)
Number of catheter days (day)* 10 (9-13)
Time to operation from procedure (day)* 21 (12-34)
Complications 1 (7.7 %)
Procedure-related complications
hematoma formation 0
Complications during chemotherapy
Hepatic arterial occlusion 0
Gastroduodenal ulcer 0
Cerebral infarction 0
Infection 1
Catheter dysfunction
Catheter dislodgement 0
Occlusion of catheter 0
*Median with range

liver function impairment and liver failure occurred after HAIC, and all patients underwent hepatectomy as
expected [Table 3].

Operative and perioperative outcome
The operative outcomes and perioperative changes in liver function are presented in Tables 4 and 5. All
patients with liver function impairment recovered. No adverse effect on liver function attributable to HAIC
occurred after surgery. There was no difference in the operative outcomes of the 2 groups, and no hospital
mortality was observed.

Pathologic assessment
The histopathologic findings of the resected livers are shown in Table 6. The histologic grade for patients in
the treatment group after treatment was determined to be grade 0 for 3 patients (23%), grade 1a for 3 patients
(23%), grade 1b for 3 patients (23%), grade 2a for 2 patients (15%), grade 2b for 1 patient (8%), and grade 3 for
1 patient (8%).