The Natural History of Primary Carcinoma of the Liver

Abstract

Ninety-two patients with primary liver cancer were studied in retrospect; 39 of them were solely laparotomized. These were considered to expose the natural course of the disease. The mean survival was less than one month. The survival did not correlate to amount of tumour, type of tumour, age, coexistence of cirrhosis, or elevated alkaline phosphatase, but it did to hyperbilirubinemia. Only 10% of all the patients could be considered as candidates for liver resection. This operation was performed in 5 patients, 3 of them being alive after 12, 24, and 126 months.