OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and the effect of surgical resection of hepatic tumor originated from segment IXb.

METHODSThe cases with hepatic tumors in segment IXb who had been operated on between March 2003 and January 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSA total of 15 tumors in segment IXb, including 13 primary liver cancers and 2 benign tumors with a mean diameter of (4.3 +/- 1.6) cm, were successfully resected by anterior transhepatic approach under sequential occlusions of portal tride and total hepatic vascularity or portal tride clamping only. There was no operative mortality,with a mean operative time of (190.3 +/- 37.6) min and a mean operative blood lose of (376.7 +/- 252.7) ml. All the patients had uneventful postoperative course except one who suffered from ascites and edema of the low body, which was successfully managed medically. The mean postoperative hospital stay was (13.3 +/- 6.0) d. During the follow-up of 1-47 months, two patients with benign tumor enjoyed a normal life. Among the 13 patients with primary live cancers, 1 patient died of recurrence, 2 patients remained alive with intrahepatic recurrence and 10 patients survived without any sign of relapse, with a median tumor-free survival time of 23.5 months.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical resection of hepatic tumor in segment IXb, despite their sophisticated anatomic position, is feasible in technique with high safety. The local resection can provide the patients with potential to cure.