BACKGROUND: There is presently no evidence-based recommendation for surveillance of recurrent @entity157 after liver transplantation (LT). We aim to evaluate and develop evidence-based alternate surveillance imaging schedules for post-LT @entity157 @entity1 . METHODS: Imaging and pathologic reports for consecutive post-LT @entity1 followed up by regular surveillance imaging from a single institution's prospective database were evaluated with institutional review board approval. Outcome variable was time to diagnosis of first recurrence post-LT by surveillance imaging. Recurrence-free survival times from alternative surveillance schedules were compared with the existing schedule (every 3 months) using a parametric frailty model. Expected delay (EpD) in diagnosis compared to the existing schedule was also computed for the alternate surveillance schedules. A P value less than 0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five @entity1 (108 @entity1 ; 59.4    16.6 years) underwent 1953 computed tomography and 255 magnetic resonance imaging scans. Recurrence-free survival time was not significantly different in the first 5 years after LT when the imaging interval was extended from current every 3 months to every 6 months (P = 0.786, EpD = 55 days). This alternative schedule incurred 10 (50.0%) fewer surveillance scans than the 20 in the original schedule, and a corresponding reduction in radiation dose (if involved) and cost during the 5-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, modeled alternative surveillance schedules have the potential to reduce the frequency of scans without compromising surveillance benefits.

Evidence-Based Surveillance Imaging Schedule After Liver Transplantation for XXXX Recurrence.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'men'] @entity157 :: ('MESH:D006528', 'Disease') :: ['hepatocellular carcinoma']
@entity157 :: (MESH:D006528,Disease) :: ['Hepatocellular Carcinoma']
