Recent progress in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma detected during a surveillance program in Japan

Aim: This study explored recent improvements in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed during surveillance. Methods: The subjects were 1074 patients with HCC, subdivided into three groups. Group A comprised 211 patients for whom HCC was detected during periodic follow‐up examinations at Kurume University School of Medicine, Group B comprised 544 patients diagnosed with HCC during periodic follow‐up examinations at other institutions, and, Group C comprised 319 patients with HCC detected incidentally or because of symptoms. Results: In 1995–2000 and 2001–2006, 91% and 91% of group A, 68% and 70% of group B, and 27% and 26% of group C patients with HCC, respectively, met the Milan criteria. For groups A and B, the proportions of patients with Child–Pugh class A and use of promising treatment increased in the later periods compared to those diagnosed during the earlier periods (group A, Child–Pugh class A, 72% vs 58% [P = 0.040], receiving treatment, 90% vs 70% [P