Efficacy and factors affecting the choice of enucleation and liver resection for giant hemangioma: a retrospective propensity score-matched study

BACKGROUND: Liver resection (LR) and enucleation (EN) are the main surgical treatment for giant hepatic hemangioma (HH), but how to choose the type of surgery is still controversial. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and the factors affecting the choice of open procedure for HH. METHODS: The data for patients with pathologically confirmed HH who underwent open surgery from April 2014 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses with logistic regression were performed to disclose the factors associated with the choice of EN or LR. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to compare the efficacy of the two procedures. RESULTS: A total of 163 and 110 patients were enrolled in the EN and LR groups. Following 1:1 matching by PSM analysis, 66 patients were selected from each group. Centrally located lesions (OR: 0.131, 95% CI 0.070–0.244), tumors size > 12.1 cm (OR: 0.226, 95% CI 0.116–0.439) and multiple tumors (OR: 1.860, 95% CI 1.003–3.449) were independent factors affecting the choice of EN. There was no significant difference in the median operation time (156 vs. 195 min, P = 0.156), median blood loss (200 vs. 220 ml, P = 0.423), blood transfusion rate (33.3% vs. 33.3%, P = 1.000), mean postoperative feeding (3.1 vs. 3.3 d, P = 0.460), mean postoperative hospital stay (9.5 vs. 9.0 d, P = 0.206), or the major complication rates between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Peripherally located lesions, tumors size ≤ 12.1 cm and multiple tumors were more inclined to receive EN. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of EN or LR.