Hepatic resection of giant metastatic tumor from clear cell carcinoma of the ovary

All cancer patients, particularly those treated for colorectal cancer, should be monitored for the presence of liver metastases, but liver metastases from ovarian clear cell carcinoma are quite rare. We report a patient subjected to extended left hepatectomy due to a giant metastasis 5 years after surgical treatment for an ovarian neoplasm that was histopathologically diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma. A 58-year-old woman had undergone hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to ovarian cancer (stage Ic). Four years and 8 months after the operation, a computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a giant tumor in the left lobe of the liver. The tumor compressed the inferior vena cava (IVC), but it was not clear whether it invaded the vessel. She received chemotherapy for 4 months; however, the tumor did not decrease in size. She was subsequently referred to our institution and was submitted to operation after it was confirmed that there were no distant metastases. After being subjected to an extended left hepatectomy and cholecystectomy, the patient recovered from the surgery without any complications. She has been carefully followed for 17 months and has presented no evidence of recurrence.     

Surgical resection of a solitary liver metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report

Introduction Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a squamous cell carcinoma arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. Most cases are reported from Southeast Asia, where the incidence of the disease is 20-30 per 100 000, whilein Western countries it is less than one per 100 000.[1] Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appears to be the strongest predisposing factor.[2, 3] Tumors are subdivided into three types according to their histological examination: keratinising squamous cell carcinoma (WHO t…     

Hepatic resection for large hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of UCSF criteria

Background:

Treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, especially when the disease presents at an advanced stage. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the efficacy of liver resection in patients who fulfil or exceed University of California San Francisco (UCSF) criteria by assessing longterm outcome.

Methods:

Between 2002 and 2008, 59 patients with large HCC (>5 cm) underwent hepatectomy. Thirty-two of these patients fulfilled UCSF criteria for transplantation (group A) and 27 did not (group B). Disease-free survival and overall survival rates were compared between the two groups after resection and were critically evaluated with regard to patient eligibility for transplant.

Results:

In all patients major or extended hepatectomies were performed. There was no perioperative mortality. Morbidity consisted of biliary fistula, abscess, pleural effusion and pneumonia and was significantly higher in patient group B. Disease-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 66%, 37% and 34% in group A and 56%, 29% and 26% in group B, respectively (P < 0.01). Survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 73%, 39% and 35% in group A and 64%, 35% and 29% in group B, respectively (P= 0.04). The recurrence rate was higher in group B (P= 0.002).

Conclusions:

Surgical resection, if feasible, is suggested in patients with large HCC and can be performed with acceptable overall and disease-free survival and morbidity rates. In patients eligible for transplantation, resection may also have a place in the management strategy when waiting list time is prolonged for reasons of organ shortage or when the candidate has low priority as a result of a low MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score.     

Laparoscopic liver resection facilitates salvage liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Purpose

In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a previous liver resection (LR) may compromise subsequent liver transplantation (LT) by creating adhesions and increasing surgical difficulty. Initial laparoscopic LR (LLR) may reduce such technical consequences, but its effect on subsequent LT has not been reported. We report the operative results of LT after laparoscopic or open liver resection (OLR).

Methods

Twenty-four LT were performed, 12 following prior LLR and 12 following prior OLR. The LT was performed using preservation of the inferior vein cava. Indication for the LT was recurrent HCC in 19 cases (salvage LT), while five patients were listed for LT and underwent resection as a neoadjuvant procedure (bridge resection).

Results

In the LLR group, absence of adhesions was associated with straightforward access to the liver in all cases. In the OLR group, 11 patients required long and hemorrhagic dissection. Median durations of the hepatectomy phase and whole LT were 2.5 and 6.2 h, and 4.5 and 8.3 h in the LLR and OLR groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Median blood loss was 1200 ml and 2300 ml in the LLR and OLR groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Median transfusions of hepatectomy phase and whole LT were 0 and 3 U, and 2 and 6 U, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no postoperative deaths.

Conclusions

In our study, LLR facilitated the LT procedure as compared with OLR in terms of reduced operative time, blood loss and transfusion requirements. We conclude that LLR should be preferred over OLR when feasible in potential transplant candidates.     

Pancreatoduodenectomy after hepato-biliary resection for recurrent metastatic rectal carcinoma

Intrapancreatic bile duct metastasis from rectal carcinoma is rare. A 48-year-old man underwent extended left hepatic lobectomy and caudate lobectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection for liver metastasis from a rectal carcinoma presenting with intrabiliary growth. A second recurrent tumor was successfully resected by pancreatoduodenectomy without injury to the jejunal loop for biliary reconstruction. Preservation of the previous bilio-enteric anastomosis was critical. Placing the jejunal limb of the hepaticojejunostomy through the retrogastric route was superior to placement through the common retrocolic and anteduodenal route, because the mesentery of the Roux-en Y jejunal limb did not obscure the pancreatic head. Histologic examination revealed a recurrent tumor growing into the remnant intrapancreatic bile duct. This suggested two possibilities: spontaneous shedding of cancer cells from the proximal metastasis, and implantation as a complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. In both these circumstances, the metastatic lesion is not systemic, but is a local disease. An aggressive surgical approach for localized recurrence of this type may improve survival.     

规则性肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的分析

目的:随机对照观察规则性肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的安全性以及临床疗效,探讨治疗肝癌合理的手术方式.方法:将38例肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的患者随机分为2组:规则性肝切除术15例.非规则性肝切除术23例,对两组病例的手术和随访情况进行分析评价.结果:两组均无手术死亡,术中出血、并发症发生率、住院时间无显著差异.规则性肝切除标本切缘满意率(大于2cm)较高,术后近期复发率显著降低,一年无瘤生存率高于非规则性肝切除.结论:规则性肝切除是治疗原发性肝癌安全有效的术式,对有适应证的病例应尽可能采用此种手术方式,有望获得较好的疗效.     

Hepatic resection for primary giant leiomyoma of the liver

Background

Smooth muscle tumours are common in the genito-urinary and gastro-intestinal tracts, but primary leiomyoma of the liver is extremely rare. Only a few cases have been reported to date.

Case outline

We report a case of giant leiomyoma of the liver in a 67-year-old woman that was treated by an extended right hepatectomy. There was no evidence of leiomyoma elsewhere in the abdomen (including the uterus).

Discussion

This appears to be the largest hepatic leiomyoma reported in the literature.     

Hepatic resection for colorectal metastases

PURPOSE: Hepatic resection affords the best hope of survival for patients with colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver. However, recurrences are observed in about 60 percent of patients after curative hepatic resection. The purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic factors of patients undergoing curative hepatic resection for colorectal metastases. METHODS: Between April 1984 and September 1997, 168 patients underwent curative hepatic resection for colorectal metastases. The clinicopathologic factors studied for prognostic value were gender, age, primary site, nodal status of primary tumor, time of metastases, preoperative serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen, hepatic tumor size and distribution, number of metastases, type of hepatic resection, resection margin, presence of micrometastases in resected specimen and microscopic fibrous pseudocapsule between the hepatic tumor and surrounding hepatic parenchyma, nodal status of hepatoduodenal ligament, adjuvant regional chemotherapy, and perioperative transfusion. RESULTS: The overall survival was 42 percent at three years and 26 percent at five years, including a 3.5 percent 60-day surgical mortality rate. Thirty-one percent of patients had micrometastases located at a median distance of 3 mm from the metastatic tumor edge. Presence of microscopic fibrous pseudocapsule was observed in 28 percent of patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that significant prognostic factors for survival were nodal status of primary tumor, number of metastases, resection margin, microscopic fibrous pseudocapsule, and adjuvant regional chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 1) hepatic resection is effective in select patients with colorectal metastases; 2) adequate resection margin and adjuvant regional chemotherapy can improve outcome; and 3) microscopic fibrous pseudocapsule may offer additional postoperative information as an independent prognostic factor.Presented at the 11th Biennial Scientific Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, Perth, Western Australia, February 16 to 20, 1998.     

Pancreatic resection for metastatic melanoma

BackgroundThe pancreas is an occasional site of metastases from melanoma. It may be the only location of metastatic disease, but more often the melanoma metastasises to other organs as well. Treatment options are somewhat limited, and the role of operative treatment is poorly defined.Case outlinesTwo patients presenting with abdominal pain were found to have pancreatic lesions. A 45-year-old woman had a pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy for a mass in the head of pancreas; concurrent liver nodules were treated by segmental liver resection. A 55-year-old man had a total pancreatectomy for multiple pancreatic tumours. Both patients gave a history of ocular melanoma, diagnosed >10 years previously. They had no evidence of malignancy elsewhere. Histology of resected specimens confirmed metastatic melanoma with features consistent with an ocular primary. All resection margins were clear of malignancy, and no lymph node metastases were detected. At 6 months follow-up there were no signs of tumour recurrence.DiscussionComplete surgical resection offers potential cure in selected patients with metastatic melanoma involving the pancreas, when there is no evidence of widespread disease.     

Hepatic resection for benign tumours of the liver

The most frequent benign tumours of the liver include haemangioma, liver cell adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Patients may undergo hepatic resection because of a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy or uncertainty in diagnosis despite an extensive work-up.     

Hepatic resection for benign non-cystic liver lesions

BackgroundHepatic resection is indicated for a variety of benign conditions because of persistent symptoms, uncertainty regarding the diagnosis or the risk of malignant transformation. The aim of this study was to assess the indications for and outcome of hepatic resection for benign non-cystic liver lesions in a specialist hepatobiliary unit.Patients and methodsAll patients who had undergone hepatic resection for benign non-cystic hepatic lesions between 1989 and 2001 were identified from a prospective database for analysis.ResultsA total of 49 patients (40 women, 9 men) with a mean age of 43 years (range 21–75 years) underwent resection of non-cystic benign lesions. Indications for operation included suspected liver cell adenoma (n=11), suspicion of malignancy (11), persistent symptoms attributable to the lesion (20) or chronic sepsis (7). The final diagnosis was focal nodular hyperplasia (n=12), haemangioma (12), adenoma (8), sclerosing cholangitis (5), inflammatory pseudotumour (4), intrahepatic cholelithiasis (3), chronic hepatic abscess (3), benign biliary fibrosis (I) and leiomyoma (I). Major anatomical hepatic resections were performed in 44 patients, and 5 patients underwent a segmentectomy or minor atypical resection. Median operating time was 215 min (range 45–450 min) and median blood loss was 875 ml (range 200–4000 ml). Ten patients (20%) required a median blood transfusion of 2 units (range 2–8 units). The median postoperative stay was 10 days (range 4–33 days). There were no deaths, but complications occurred in 15 patients (27%).ConclusionsHepatic resection can be safely recommended for selected patients with a variety of benign non-cystic hepatic lesions. A small group of patients undergo resection as a result of inability to rule out a malignant process, but the large majority will be operated on because of either their malignant potential or related symptoms.     

Meta-analysis of laparoscopic vs open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To conduct a meta-analysis to determine the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and Science Citation Index Expanded and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library were searched systematically to identify relevant comparative studies reporting outcomes for both LLR and OLR for HCC between January 1992 and February 2012. Two authors independently assessed the trials for inclusion and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.0 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, United Kingdom). Pooled odds ratios (OR) or weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95%CI were calculated using either fixed effects (Mantel-Haenszel method) or random effects models (DerSimonian and Laird method). Evaluated endpoints were operative outcomes (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion requirement), postoperative outcomes (liver failure, cirrhotic decompensation/ascites, bile leakage, postoperative bleeding, pulmonary complications, intraabdominal abscess, mortality, hospital stay and oncologic outcomes (positive resection margins and tumor recurrence).RESULTS: Fifteen eligible non-randomized studies were identified, out of which, 9 high-quality studies involving 550 patients were included, with 234 patients in the LLR group and 316 patients in the OLR group. LLR was associated with significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, based on six studies with 333 patients [WMD: -129.48 mL; 95%CI: -224.76-(-34.21) mL; P = 0.008]. Seven studies involving 416 patients were included to assess blood transfusion requirement between the two groups. The LLR group had lower blood transfusion requirement (OR: 0.49; 95%CI: 0.26-0.91; P = 0.02). While analyzing hospital stay, six studies with 333 patients were included. Patients in the LLR group were found to have shorter hospital stay [WMD: -3.19 d; 95%CI: -4.09-(-2.28) d; P < 0.00001] than their OLR counterpart. Seven studies including 416 patients were pooled together to estimate the odds of developing postoperative ascites in the patient groups. The LLR group appeared to have a lower incidence of postoperative ascites (OR: 0.32; 95%CI: 0.16-0.61; P = 0.0006) as compared with OLR patients. Similarly, fewer patients had liver failure in the LLR group than in the OLR group (OR: 0.15; 95%CI: 0.02-0.95; P = 0.04). However, no significant differences were found between the two approaches with regards to operation time [WMD: 4.69 min; 95%CI: -22.62-32 min; P = 0.74], bile leakage (OR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.10-3.12; P = 0.50), postoperative bleeding (OR: 0.54; 95%CI: 0.20-1.45; P = 0.22), pulmonary complications (OR: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.18-1.04; P = 0.06), intra-abdominal abscesses (OR: 0.21; 95%CI: 0.01-4.53; P = 0.32), mortality (OR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.14-1.51; P = 0.20), presence of positive resection margins (OR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.21-1.62; P = 0.31) and tumor recurrence (OR: 0.95; 95%CI: 0.62-1.46; P = 0.81).CONCLUSION: LLR appears to be a safe and feasible option for resection of HCC in selected patients based on current evidence. However, further appropriately designed randomized controlled trials should be undertaken to ascertain these findings.     

Hepatic resection for metastatic tumors from noncolorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of liver resection for hepatic metastases from noncolorectal carcinomas has yet to be clarified. The present study examines a single institutional experience of hepatic resection for noncolorectal metastases. METHODOLOGY: From January 1987 to March 1999, 14 patients underwent curative resection for liver metastases from noncolorectal carcinomas. Records of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Resections were performed for liver metastases from gastric cancers (n = 8), pancreatic cancers (n = 2), and cancers of bile duct, the papilla of Vater, kidney, and breast (n = 1, each). Six patients (5 with gastric cancers and 1 with pancreas cancer) presented with synchronous disease and 8 with metachronous disease. In the gastric cancer patients, there are 2 disease-free survivors (26 and 53 months) in the metachronous group, though all of the 5 patients with synchronous disease died within 29 months. All of the 4 patients with pancreatobiliary carcinomas died within 2 years. One case of breast cancer and another of renal cell cancer are alive without disease at 49 and 9 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For metastases from gastric cancers, better survival after hepatic resection is expected in metachronous cases than in synchronous cases. Hepatic resection may afford little benefit for patients with liver metastases from pancretobiliary cancers.     

Clinicopathologic analysis of stage II-III hepatocellular carcinoma showing early massive recurrence after liver resection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prognosis after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been improved by progress in the evaluation of hepatic functional reserve, surgical techniques and perioperative management. However, even when curative resection is performed at a relatively early stage, a considerable number of patients develop early intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic recurrence postoperatively. This study analyzed the clinicopathologic features of HCC with early recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed records of 513 consecutive patients who had undergone liver resection for HCC. There were 48 deaths within a year after surgery from recurrence, including 21 patients with stage II or III HCC (group I). Clinicopathologic parameters of group I patients were compared with those of 188 patients (group II) who developed recurrence following resection of stage II or III HCC and died more than 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, age, tumor diameter (phi), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP):phi and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II):phi were significantly greater in group I than in group II. Macroscopic portal vein invasion, microscopic vascular invasion, intrahepatic metastasis, poor differentiation, pleomorphism, sarcomatous change, vascular lake, and angiographic condensed pooling were more frequently observed in group I than group II. Five independent determinants were selected by multivariate analysis: AFP:phi, histologic pleomorphism, sarcomatous change, vascular lake and angiographic condensed pooling. CONCLUSIONS: Highly malignant HCC with extremely poor prognosis exhibits peculiar clinicopathologic characteristics, particularly histologic immaturity, and can be predicted by preoperative indicators such as markedly elevated tumor marker concentrations and condensed pooling on angiography.     

Evaluating the current surgical strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite careful surveillance programs and the development of antiviral therapy for hepatitis virus infection, the occurrence rate of HCC remains high. Liver resection and liver transplantation are mainstay curative treatments. Most patients with HCC have impaired liver function, and surgical treatment is always accompanied by the risk of decompensation of the remnant liver, especially when the volume of the remnant liver is too small and the liver function too low to meet metabolic demands. The mortality of liver resection has dramatically decreased over the last three decades from 20% to less than 5% due to the accumulation of knowledge of liver anatomy, perioperative management and preoperative assessment of liver function. Here we provide an overview of the multidisciplinary treatments and current standard treatment strategies for HCC, to explore the possibility of expanding surgical treatments beyond the current standards.