Proposal of selection criteria for operative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus incorporating hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

An effective response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and subsequent operative resection salvaged patients with initially advanced inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Our results suggest that operative resection should be indicated only in patients without advanced inferior vena cava tumor thrombus or with advanced inferior vena cava tumor thrombus controlled by preoperative hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.