Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is becoming widely accepted for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and minor laparoscopic liver resection are now considered standard approaches, especially for tumors located in the anterolateral segments of the liver. Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy in adult donors is also gaining acceptance for child liver transplantation in many centers. Major LLRs, including left hepatectomy and right hepatectomy, have been recently attempted. Laparoscopic donor hepatectomy is becoming more popular owing to increasing demand from young living donors who appreciate its minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmetic outcomes. Several centers have performed total laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation. Many meta-analyses have shown that LLR is better than open liver resection in terms of short-term outcomes, principally cosmetic outcomes. Although no randomized control trials have compared LLR with open liver resection, the long-term oncologic outcomes were similar for both procedures in recent case-matched studies.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is becoming widely accepted for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and minor laparoscopic liver resection are now considered standard approaches, especially for tumors located in the anterolateral segments of the liver. Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy in adult donors is also gaining acceptance for child liver transplantation in many centers. Major LLRs, including left hepatectomy and right hepatectomy, have been recently attempted. Laparoscopic donor hepatectomy is becoming more popular owing to increasing demand from young living donors who appreciate its minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmetic outcomes. Several centers have performed total laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation. Many meta-analyses have shown that LLR is better than open liver resection in terms of short-term outcomes, principally cosmetic outcomes. Although no randomized control trials have compared LLR with open liver resection, the long-term oncologic outcomes were similar for both procedures in recent case-matched studies.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

OBJECTIVETo clarify the proper surgical procedure of treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC).

METHODSFour patients with HCC with a tumor thrombus in the IVC underwent hepatectomy and thrombectomy. Following hepatectomy, tumor thrombus was removed by incising the wall of the IVC in 3 patients and from the hepatic vein in one patient. The 3 patients underwent thrombectomy under either hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE) or Satinsky's vascular clamping.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful without operative death and major complications. The postoperative course was uneventful in 3 patients and pleural effusion occurred in one patient who needed thoracentesis. Follow-up showed 3 patients died after 30, 10 and 14 months, respectively, and one patient is alive for 7 months.

CONCLUSIONSHCC with tumor thrombus in the IVC is operable and the proper procedure is hepatectomy plus thrombectomy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; pathology

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has made great progress in recent ten years, although the appropriate selection of treatment methods remains controversial. Surgical resection of HCC is still widely recognized as the first choice, which has been remarkably improved by effectively controlling intra-operative bleeding. However, the ischemia/reperfusion injury and long-term recurrence still proposes challenges to Pringle's maneuver. The indications of liver transplantation also expand in recent years, and many centers have used marginal donor liver and living donor liver. Remission of the shortage of donors, local ablation of small HCC, and surgical resection still lack the support of randomized controlled trials. In summary, the surgical treatment of HCC should strictly based on the indications of various therapies, which should be prudently verified by randomized controlled trials.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of the laparoscopic vs. traditional open splenectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hypersplenism. Between 2002 and 2013, 51 Chinese HCC patients with hypersplenism underwent either simultaneous laparoscopic splenectomy plus anticancer therapies (Lap-S&A) (n=25) or traditional open splenectomy plus anti-cancer therapies (TOS&A) (n=26). The outcomes were reviewed during and after the operation. Anti-cancer therapies for HCC included laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) and laparoscopic microwave ablation (LMA). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the operating time between the two groups, but the blood loss and blood transfusion were less, pain intensity after surgery was weaker, the time to first bowel movement, time to the first flatus and postoperative hospital stay were shorter, and the postoperative complication rate and the readmission rate were lower in the Lap-S&A group than in the TO-S&A group. Two patients in the Lap-S&A group and one patient in the TO-S&A group died 30 days after surgery. However, no significant difference in the mortality rate was noted between the two groups. It was concluded that simultaneous Lap-S&A holds the advantages of more extensive indications, lower complication incidence and less operative expenditure than conventional open approach and it is a feasible and safe approach for HCC with hypersplenism.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Liver ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDBudd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is characterized by liver sinusoidal congestion, ischemic liver cell damage, and liver portal hypertension caused by hepatic venous outflow constriction. The aim of this research was to investigate the clinicopathological features of BCS-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its surgical treatment and prognosis.

METHODSClinical data from 38 patients with BCS-associated HCC who were surgically treated in our hospital from July 1998 to August 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with BCSassociated HCC and surgical treatment for BCS-associated HCC were investigated.

RESULTSCompared to the patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC, the patients with BCS-associated HCC showed a female predominance, and had significantly higher cirrhosis rate, higher incidence of solitary tumors, lower incidence of infiltrative growth, higher proportion of marginal or exogenous growth, lower rate of portal vein invasion, and higher degree of differentiation. Median survival was longer in patients with BCS-associated HCC (76 months) than in those with HBV associated HCC (38 months). Of 38 patients with BCS-associated HCC, 22 patients who received combined surgery mainly by liver resection plus cavoatrial shunts exhibited hepatic venous outflow constriction relief, while the other 16 patients only underwent liver resection. The combined surgery group had significantly longer survival and lower incidences of post-operative lethal complications (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that relief of hepatic venous outflow obstruction was a protective factor for survival of patients with BCS-associated HCC, whereas portal vein invasion was a risk factor.

CONCLUSIONSBCS-associated HCC has a more favorable biological behavior and prognosis than HBV-associated HCC. For patients with BCS-associated HCC, tumor resection accompanied with relief of hepatic venous outflow obstruction can reduce the incidence of complications and extend survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; complications ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of three-phase helical dynamic CT in the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METFODS: Three-phase helical dynamic CT in 77 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis was evaluated prospectively before orthotopic liver transplantation. The histopathologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas in the explanted livers were compared with pretransplantation CT results by one-to-one correlation. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination of the explanted livers revealed 72 hepatocellular carcinomas in 41 patients. The size of the hepatocellular carcinomas was 0.5-14.0 cm (mean, 1.6 cm). The use of helical dynamic CT enabled the detection of 38 of 72 hepatocellular carcinomas (sensitivity, 53%). Fifteen of 35 (43%) hepatocellular carcinomas smaller than 2 cm and 23 of 37 (62%), hepatocellular carcinomas ranging from 2.0 cm to 14.0 cm were detected. Patient sensitivity and specificity in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma were 81% (33/41) and 94% (34/36), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Three-phase helical dynamic CT is insensitive for detection of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, especially for hepatocellular carcinomas smaller than 2 cm.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Tomography, Spiral Computed

We report on a case of hepatic splenosis. A 32-yr-old man underwent a splenectomy due to trauma at the age of 6. He had been diagnosed as being a chronic hepatitis B-virus carrier 16 yr prior to the surgery. The dynamic computer tomography (CT) performed due to elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (128 ng/mL) demonstrated two hepatic nodules, which were located near the liver capsule. A nodule in Segment IVa had a slight enhancement during both the arterial and portal phases, and another nodule in Segment VI showed a slight enhancement only in the portal phases. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the mass in Segment VI showed enhanced development in the arterial phases and slight hyperintensivity to the liver parenchyma in the portal phases. These imaging findings suggested a hypervascular tumor in the liver, which could be either focal nodular hyperplasia, adenoma, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Even though these lesions were diagnosed as HCC, some of the findings were not compatible with typical HCC. On dynamic CT and MRI, all lesions showed a slight arterial enhancement and did not show early venous washout. All lesions were located near the liver capsule. These findings, along with a history of splenectomy, suggested a diagnosis of hepatic splenosis.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia/diagnosis/pathology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Splenosis/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; alpha-Fetoproteins/biosynthesis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most frequently applied curative treatments in patients with a single small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the clinical significance of and risk factors for early massive recurrence after RFA—a dreadful event limiting further curative treatment—have not been fully evaluated. METHODS: In total, 438 patients with a single HCC of size ≤3 cm who underwent percutaneous RFA as an initial treatment between 2006 and 2009 were included. Baseline patient characteristics, overall survival, predictive factors, and recurrence after RFA were evaluated. In addition, the incidence, impact on survival, and predictive factors of early massive recurrence, and initial recurrence beyond the Milan criteria within 2 years were also investigated. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 68.4 months, recurrent HCC was confirmed in 302 (68.9%) patients, with early massive recurrence in 27 patients (6.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 95.4%, 84.7%, and 81.8%, respectively, in patients with no recurrence, 99.6%, 86.4%, and 70.1% in patients with recurrence within the Milan criteria or late recurrence, and 92.6%, 46.5%, and 0.05% in patients with early massive recurrence. Multivariable analysis identified older age, Child-Pugh score B or C, and early massive recurrence as predictive of poor overall survival. A tumor size of ≥2 cm and tumor location adjacent to the colon were independent risk factors predictive of early massive recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Early massive recurrence is independently predictive of poor overall survival after RFA in patients with a single small HCC. Tumors sized ≥2 cm and located adjacent to the colon appear to be independent risk factors for early massive recurrence.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/pathology/*surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Hepatitis B/complications ; Hepatitis C/complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome