Identification of patients at high risk for recurrence in carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: Analysis in 460 patients.

Aim: Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (CAV) shows a favorable prognosis compared to that with the other periampullary tumors, while some cases have a poor prognosis. The aims of the present study are to clarify the clinicopathological factors associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with CAV after curative resection and to validate the usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). Patients: The study design is a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients with CAV who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2008 and December 2020 at 26 hospitals were analyzed. The 30 clinicopathological factors were evaluated. A propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare between patients with and without AC. Results: Finally, 460 patients were analyzed. Median duration of follow-up was 47.2 months. Twenty-one prognostic factors associated with poor RFS were identified by univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, aged ≥71, tumor diameter ≥12 mm, pT2 or higher stage (pT≥2), portal vein invasion (PV+), venous invasion(V+), and node positive disease (pN+) were independent prognostic factors for poor RFS. Out of 80 patients who received AC, 63 patients were assigned to analysis for PSM. The results showed no beneficial effect of AC on RFS. The preoperative factors potentially predicting pT≥2, V+, and/or N+ were at least one of following; (1) CA19-9 > 37 IU/mL, (2) ulcerative or mixed type appearance, (3) except for well-differentiated tumor, or (4) except for intestinal subtype of histology. Conclusions: Aged ≥71, tumor diameter ≥12 mm, pT≥2, PV+, V+, and pN+ were independent prognostic factors for poor RFS in patients with CAV. An additional therapeutic strategy may be desirable in CAV patients at high risk for recurrence.

Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic versus Open Hepatectomy for Left Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Propensity Score Analyses Using Retrospective Japanese and Korean Individual Patient Data.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the prognostic impact of laparoscopic left hepatectomy (LLH) with that of open left hepatectomy (OLH) on patient survival after resection of left hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Among the 953 patients who received initial treatment for primary HCC that was resectable by either LLH or OLH from 2013 to 2017 in Japan and Korea, 146 patients underwent LLH and 807 underwent OLH. The inverse probability of treatment weighting approach based on propensity scoring was used to address the potential selection bias inherent in the recurrence and survival outcomes between the LLH and OLH groups. Results: The occurrence rate of postoperative complications and hepatic decompensation was significantly lower in the LLH group than in the OLH group. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was better in the LLH group than in the OLH group (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.71; p = 0.029), whereas overall survival (OS) was not significantly different. Subgroup analyses of RFS and OS revealed an almost consistent trend in favor of LLH over OLH. In patients with tumor sizes of ≥4.0 cm or those with single tumors, both RFS and OS were significantly better in the LLH group than in the OLH group. Conclusions: LLH decreases the risk of tumor recurrence and improves OS in patients with primary HCC located in the left liver.

Effect of sarcopenia on survival in patients with cirrhosis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The association between sarcopenia and prognosis in patients with cirrhosis remains to be determined. In this study, we aimed to quantify the association between sarcopenia and the risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis, stratified by sex, underlying liver disease etiology, and severity of hepatic dysfunction. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and major scientific conference sessions were searched without language restriction through 13 January 2021 with an additional manual search of bibliographies of relevant articles. Cohort studies of ≥100 patients with cirrhosis and ≥12 months of follow-up that evaluated the association between sarcopenia, muscle mass and the risk of mortality were included. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies involving 6,965 patients with cirrhosis were included. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis was 37.5% overall (95% CI 32.4%-42.8%), and was higher in male patients, those with alcohol-associated liver disease, those with Child-Pugh grade C cirrhosis, and when sarcopenia was defined by L3-SMI (third lumbar-skeletal muscle index). Sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.30, 95% CI 2.01-2.63), with similar findings in a sensitivity analysis of patients with cirrhosis without hepatocellular carcinoma (aHR 2.35, 95% CI 1.95-2.83) and in subgroups stratified by sex, liver disease etiology, and severity of hepatic dysfunction. The association between quantitative muscle mass index and mortality further supports the association between sarcopenia and poor prognosis (aHR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.98). There was no significant heterogeneity in any of our analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was highly and independently associated with higher risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis. LAY SUMMARY: The prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with death in patients with cirrhosis remain unclear. This meta-analysis indicated that sarcopenia affected about one-third of patients with cirrhosis and up to 50% of patients with alcohol-related liver disease or Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis. Sarcopenia was independently associated with an ∼2-fold higher risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis. The mortality rate increased with greater severity or longer durations of sarcopenia. Increasing awareness about the importance of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis among stakeholders must be prioritized.

Identifying Patients Who May Benefit from Liver Resection Compared to Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using 18F-FDG PET.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess an oncologic setting where patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could benefit from liver resection (LR) compared to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography. METHODS: The consecutive data of patients with HCC who underwent 18F-FDG PET before LR (LR group, n = 314) and LDLT (LDLT group, n = 65) between 2003 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor 18F-FDG avidity was quantified as the tumor to liver standardized uptake value ratio (TLR, cut-off value was defined at 2). Multivariate analysis was performed to assess significant preoperative tumor factors in the LR group. Survival outcomes between the two groups were stratified by these factors. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (OS: 56.9% vs. 73.8%, LR vs. LDLT, p < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival rate (RFS: 27.4% vs. 70.7%, p < 0.001) were significantly better in the LDLT group compared to the LR group. In the LR study, multivariate analysis identified TLR and tumor multiplicity as significant preoperative tumor factors for OS. In patients with solitary and TLR < 2 HCC, the 5-year OS rate was not significantly different between the LR and LDLT groups (70.3% vs. 71.8%, p = 0.352); meanwhile, RFS rate was better in the LDLT group (34.3% vs. 71.8%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LDLT is associated with better long-term outcomes than LR in patients with HCC; however, selected patients with solitary and TLR < 2 HCC may benefit from LR.

Risk Factors and Outcome of Portal Vein Thrombosis After Laparoscopic and Open Hepatectomy for Primary Liver Cancer: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Post-hepatectomy portal vein thrombosis (PH-PVT) is a severe complication. The risk factors of PH-PVT after laparoscopic and open hepatectomy have not been clarified yet. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the risk factors and outcome of PH-PVT in patients with primary liver cancer. METHODS: We enrolled 622 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy in our hospital between January 2006 and August 2016. RESULTS: Of 21 patients (3.4%) with PH-PVT, 7 had grade I; 13, grade II; and 1, grade III. The patients with PH-PVT were significantly older than those without PH-PVT. Of the 413 patients who underwent open hepatectomy, those who underwent a major right hepatectomy (4.1%) had a slightly higher incidence of PH-PVT. Of the 209 patients who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy, those who underwent a left lateral sectionectomy (21.2%) and major right hepatectomy (16.7%) had high incidence rates of PH-PVT. The treatment was only observation in five patients, medication with an antithrombotic drug in 15 patients, and reoperation in one patient. PH-PVT diminished in 17 patients. Cavernous transformation and/or stenosis of the portal vein developed in three patients. The patient with grade III PH-PVT after open right hemihepatectomy underwent reoperation but died of hepatic failure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that patient age, left lateral sectionectomy were risk factors of PH-PVT. Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and major right hepatectomy might bring about relatively higher risk of PH-PVT. Major right hepatectomy tends to lead to severe PH-PVT. Careful handling of the PV during hepatectomy and early treatment of PH-PVT are necessary.

Laparoscopic resection of abdominal cystic lymphangioma derived from lesser omentum: Case report.

RATIONALE: Cystic lymphangiomas are uncommon congenital malformations that originate from lymphatic channels. Lymphangiomas frequently appear in the head, neck, and axillary regions of children. Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are extremely rare, having a reported incidence of 1 in 20,000 to 250,000. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a cough that had persisted for several weeks. Abdominal ultrasonography incidentally revealed a multilocular cystic lesion in the lesser curvature of the stomach. DIAGNOSIS: Preoperative findings indicated that the lesion was cystic lymphangioma. However, the possibility of a pancreatic tumor could not be completely excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopy revealed a multilocular cyst in the lesser curvature of the stomach. The gastrocolic ligament was divided, and the body and tail of the pancreas was exposed in the omental bursa, showing that the cystic lesion was not derived from the pancreas but from the lesser omentum. Although it was located directly beside the left gastric artery, the cyst was enucleated and totally resected laparoscopically without sacrificing the artery. OUTCOMES: The cystic lesion was histopathologically diagnosed as an abdominal cystic lymphangioma originating from the lesser omentum. The patient was discharged on the postoperative day 4 without complications. LESSONS: Preoperative imaging cannot completely distinguish abdominal cystic lymphangiomas from other types of cystic tumors. Because cystic lymphangiomas have the potential to grow, invade vital structures, and develop life-threatening complications, laparoscopic assessment followed by total resection is considered a useful treatment strategy for peripancreatic cystic lesions.

Including body composition in MELD scores improves mortality prediction among patients awaiting liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Model for End-stage Liver Diseases (MELD) is widely accepted for prioritizing candidates awaiting liver transplantation (LT). However, MELD scores do not reflect the severity of the nutritional or functional status of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from 173 patients who were waitlisted for LT at our institution between April 2006 and December 2016. By including skeletal muscle mass, muscle quality and visceral adiposity evaluated using plain computed tomography imaging in MELD scores, we developed body composition-MELD (BC-MELD), and investigated its impact on the prediction of mortality among patients awaiting LT. RESULTS: The equation generated using Cox regression analysis was as follows: BC-MELD = MELD score + 3.59 × low SMI + 5.42 × high IMAC + 2.06 × high VSR. (IMAC, intramuscular adipose tissue content; SMI, skeletal muscle mass index; VSR, visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio). The median BC-MELD score was 17.4 and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) revealed a cut-off BC-MELD score of 21.4 (AUC = 0.835, P < 0.001, sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 70.7%). Waitlist mortality in patients with high BC-MELD was significantly higher in all tested cohorts (P < 0.001) and among patients with lower conventional MELD scores (<15) (P < 0.001). The discriminatory power was significantly better for BC-MELD than MELD scores (AUC; 0.835 vs. 0.732, P = 0.001 for 3-month, AUC; 0.765 vs. 0.671, P = 0.002 for 6-month, AUC; 0.716 vs. 0.615, P < 0.001 for 12-month, AUC; 0.636 vs. 0.584, P = 0.014 for overall mortality). CONCLUSIONS: BC-MELD is the first to include not only muscularity but also visceral adiposity. It predicted waitlist mortality more accurately than the conventional MELD score. A new allocation system based on BC-MELD might lead to better outcomes for patients with cirrhosis awaiting LT.

Impact of Graft Quality and Fluid Overload on Postoperative Massive Ascites After Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

After living donor liver transplantation, we encounter cases with massive ascites, which is difficult to manage. We analyzed the risk factors for massive ascites after living donor liver transplantation. The subjects were 100 adult recipients who underwent living donor liver transplantation at Kyoto University Hospital from 2013 to 2017. We retrospectively assessed patient, graft, operative factors, and percent fluid overload, which were defined as [(weight on the day - preoperative weight)/preoperative weight] × 100%. We defined the massive ascites group as having a14-day average ascites ≥ 2500 mL and the mild ascites group as having a 14-day average ascites < 2500 mL. Forty-seven patients were included in the massive group, and 53 patients were included in the mild group. There was no difference in short- and long-term survival. In multivariate analysis, the presence of preoperative ascites (P = .0008), 14-day average percent fluid overload ≥ 14.5% (P = .0095), graft-to-recipient weight ratio < 0.86 (P = .0253), and donors' age ≥ 47 years (P = .0466) were identified as independent risk factors for massive ascites after living donor liver transplantation. A liver graft with a small graft-to-recipient weight ratio or from an elderly donor, which may indicate poor graft quality, presence of preoperative ascites, and postoperative fluid overload were associated with massive ascites after living donor liver transplantation.

Preoperative Visceral Adiposity and Muscularity Predict Poor Outcomes after Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Visceral adiposity, defined as a high visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR), has been shown to be associated with poor outcomes in several cancers. However, in the surgical field, the significance of visceral adiposity remains controversial. The present study investigated the impact of visceral adiposity as well as sarcopenic factors (low muscularity) on outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from 606 patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC at our institution between April 2005 and March 2016. Using preoperative plain computed tomography imaging at the level of the third lumbar vertebra, visceral adiposity, skeletal muscle mass, and muscle quality were evaluated by the VSR, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), respectively. The impact of these parameters on outcomes after hepatectomy for HCC was analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was significantly lower among patients with a high VSR (p < 0.001) than among patients with a normal VSR. Similarly, the recurrence-free survival rate was significantly lower among patients with a high VSR (p = 0.016). A high VSR, low SMI, and high IMAC contributed to an increased risk of death (p < 0.001) and HCC recurrence (p < 0.001) in an additive manner. Multivariate analysis showed that not only preoperative low muscularity but also visceral adiposity was a significant risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.566, p < 0.001) and HCC recurrence (HR = 1.329, p = 0.020) after hepatectomy for HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative visceral adiposity, as well as low muscularity, was closely related to poor outcomes after hepatectomy for HCC. It is crucial to establish a new strategy including perioperative nutritional interventions with rehabilitation for better outcomes after hepatectomy for HCC.

Risk-benefit point of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score in patients waiting for deceased-donor liver transplantation: A single-center experience.

AIM: To clarify the risk-benefit point of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in patients waiting for deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT). METHODS: The present study retrospectively investigated 213 patients registered on the waiting list at Kyoto University (Kyoto, Japan) between 2005 and 2016. Patients were stratified by MELD score (6-9/10-14/15-20/21-30/31-40) and classified into two groups: the DDLT group (30 patients) and the waiting group (183 patients). Their post-registration mortality risk and long-term survival were compared. RESULTS: For all MELD categories, the mortality risk was lower in the DDLT group than in the waiting group. The hazard ratio of post-registration mortality decreased in the DDLT group compared to the waiting group as the MELD score increased (0.36/0.12/0.06/0.042/0.004). Survival was significantly better among patients in the DDLT group with a MELD score of 15 or more than among patients in the waiting group. CONCLUSION: For all MELD categories, DDLT reduced the mortality risk of patients on the waiting list.

Bone mineral density correlates with survival after resection of extrahepatic biliary malignancies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Osteopenia is a condition in which bone mineral density (BMD) is lower than normal, and it is an important determinant of bone fragility. However, the utility of osteopenia in assessing the risks of surgery is unclear. This study investigated the impact of preoperative low BMD on the outcomes in patients undergoing resection of extrahepatic biliary cancers. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed with 181 patients who underwent resections of extrahepatic biliary cancers between 2005 and 2015. Their BMD was measured on preoperative computed tomography images. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared according to BMD (normal vs. low), and the prognostic factors after surgery were assessed. Propensity score matching was used to minimize the bias in patient background. RESULTS: Older age and female were strongly associated with low BMD. These factors were used to construct the propensity score model, which yielded a matched cohort of 52 legs in each group. The OS (21.2% vs. 53.9% at 5 years, p < .001) and RFS (21.8% vs. 64.6% at 5 years, p < .001) rates were significantly lower in patients with low BMD (osteopenia) than in those with normal BMD (non-osteopenia). Multivariable analyses showed that low BMD was an independent factor predictive of poor OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.343, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.362-4.129, p = .002) and poor RFS (HR: 3.648, 95% CI: 1.986-6.990, p=<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative low BMD is closely related to mortality and cancer recurrence after the resection of extrahepatic biliary cancers. BMD screening in patients with cancer should be further highlighted in the oncology field.

Impact of Sarcopenic Obesity on Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate preoperative body composition, including skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue, and to clarify the impact on outcomes after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BACKGROUND: Recent studies have indicated that sarcopenia is associated with morbidity and mortality in various pathologies, including cancer, and that obesity or visceral adiposity represents a significant risk factor for several cancers. However, the impact of sarcopenic obesity on outcomes after hepatectomy for HCC has not been fully investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 465 patients who underwent primary hepatectomy for HCC between April 2005 and March 2015. Skeletal muscle mass and visceral adipose tissue were evaluated by preoperative computed tomography to define sarcopenia and obesity. Patients were classified into 1 of 4 body composition groups according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and obesity. RESULTS: Body composition was classified as nonsarcopenic nonobesity in 184 patients (39%), nonsarcopenic obesity in 219 (47%), sarcopenic nonobesity in 31 (7%), and sarcopenic obesity in 31 (7%). Compared with patients with nonsarcopenic nonobesity, patients with sarcopenic obesity displayed worse median survival (84.7 vs. 39.1 mo, P = 0.002) and worse median recurrence-free survival (21.4 vs. 8.4 mo, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis identified sarcopenic obesity as a significant risk factor for death (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.504, P = 0.005) and HCC recurrence (HR = 2.031, P = 0.006) after hepatectomy for HCC. CONCLUSION: Preoperative sarcopenic obesity was an independent risk factor for death and HCC recurrence after hepatectomy for HCC.

Impact of sarcopenic obesity on outcomes in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Sarcopenia is known to be a poor prognostic factor after liver transplantation (LT). However, the significance of obesity in combination with sarcopenia (sarcopenic obesity) remains unclear. This study examined the impact of sarcopenic obesity on outcomes after living donor LT (LDLT). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 277 adult patients who underwent LDLT at our center between January 2008 and June 2016. Body composition parameters including skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), visceral fat area (VFA), and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) were evaluated by preoperative plain computed tomography imaging at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. This study defined sarcopenic obesity as a low SMI (male <40.31 cm2/m2; female <30.88 cm2/m2) with VFA ≥100 cm2 or body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2. We examined outcomes among four groups: nonsarcopenic/nonobesity (NN), nonsarcopenic/obesity (NO), sarcopenic/nonobesity (SN), and sarcopenic/obesity (SO) groups. RESULTS: On the basis of VFA, 1/5-year overall survival (OS) rates in patients of SN (n = 46, 59%/46%, P < 0.001) and SO (n = 9, 56%/56%, P = 0.338) groups were lower than those in patients of the NN group (86%/80%). On the other hand, on the basis of BMI, 1/5-year OS rates in patients of SN (n = 49, 59%/52%, P < 0.001) and SO (n = 6, 50%/17%, P = 0.002) groups were significantly lower than those in patients of the NN group (87%/81%). Multivariate analysis identified ABO incompatibility (P = 0.030), low SMI (P = 0.002), high IMAC (P = 0.002), and high VSR (P < 0.001) as independent risk factors for death after LT. CONCLUSION: Patients with sarcopenic obesity showed worse survival after LDLT compared with nonsarcopenic/nonobesity patients.

Bone Mineral Density as a Risk Factor for Patients Undergoing Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We have reported the impact of sarcopenia and body composition on patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of bone mineral density (BMD) on outcomes after hepatectomy for HCC and correlation with other parameters including sarcopenia are unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 465 patients who underwent primary hepatectomy for HCC between April 2005 and March 2015. We analyzed the plain CT images at the level of the eleventh thoracic vertebra with the region of interest and defined as preoperative BMD. RESULTS: In this cohort, male (n = 367) and female (n = 98) patients showed significant heterogeneity in age, body composition markers, tumor factors, peri-operative parameters and so on. The median preoperative BMD in male and female patients was 155 and 139 HU, respectively (P = 0.005). BMD was negatively correlated with age in female (r = -0.590, P < 0.001) and intramuscular adipose tissue content in both male and female (r = -0.332 and -0.359, respectively, P < 0.001). For males, BMD < 160 HU was associated with worse cancer-specific survival post-hepatectomy (P = 0.015). In contrast, females were not (P = 0.135). For male patients, multivariate analysis identified low BMD as an independent risk factor for death (hazard ratio 1.720, 95% confidence interval 1.038-2.922, P = 0.035) after hepatectomy for HCC. CONCLUSION: Preoperative low BMD was an independent risk factor for cancer-specific mortality after hepatectomy for HCC.

Etiologies, risk factors, and outcomes of bacterial cholangitis after living donor liver transplantation.

The interpretation of bacterial cholangitis after liver transplantation (LT) remains vague, because the presence of bacteria in bile, namely bacteriobilia, does not necessarily indicate an active infection. We investigated the association between post-LT bacterial cholangitis and a variety of short- and long-term outcomes. Two-hundred-seventy-four primary adult-to-adult living donor LT recipients from 2008 to 2016 were divided into three groups according the presence or absence of bacteriobilia and clinical symptoms: (1) no bacteriobilia (N group), (2) asymptomatic bacteriobilia (B group), and (3) cholangitis (C group). The number of patients was by group: N, 161; B, 64; and C, 49. Donor age ≥ 45 years (p = 0.012), choledochojejunostomy (p < 0.001), and post-LT portal hypertension (p = 0.023) were independent risk factors for developing cholangitis. Survival analysis revealed that the C group had significantly worse short- and long-term graft survival. The C group was associated with an increased incidence of early graft loss (EGL) (p < 0.001). While the frequency of readmission for recurrent cholangitis was significantly higher in both the B and C groups (p < 0.001), late graft loss (LGL) due to chronic cholangitis was only commonly observed in the C group (p = 0.002). Post-LT cholangitis could result in not only EGL but also chronic cholangitis and associated LGL.

Is Muscle MELD a More Promising Predictor for Mortality After Living Donor Liver Transplantation?

BACKGROUND: To improve the outcome of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), a scoring system that could predict accurately the patient and graft survival posttransplant is necessary. The aim of this study is to evaluate our previously proposed Muscle-model for end-stage liver disease (M-MELD) score and to compare it with the other available scores to find the best system that correlates with postoperative outcome after liver transplant. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 199 patients who underwent LDLT from January 2010 to July 2016 and calculated the preoperative MELD, MELD Na, the product of donor age and MELD (D-MELD), M-MELD, integrated MELD, and the balance of risk (BAR) score in all patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs) of each score was computed and compared at 3-, 6-months, and 1-year after LDLT. RESULTS: The M-MELD, D-MELD, and integrated MELD had a good discriminative performance in predicting 3-month mortality after LDLT with AUCs > 0.7, while the M-MELD was the only score that showed a good discriminative performance in predicting 6-month and 1-year mortality after LDLT with AUCs > 0.7. CONCLUSION: Muscle-MELD score is a simple and useful predictor of patient survival after LDLT which showed a better predictive performance than other available scores.