Primary perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa) of the liver.

We present a case of a 53-year-old woman with abdominal discomfort for 6 months. The liver was enlarged. Contrast CT scan of the abdomen revealed a 10 cm hypervascular tumour at the right lobe of the liver.

Survival outcome of re-resection for recurrent liver metastases of colorectal cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether re-resection can achieve a good survival outcome in the treatment of recurrent liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver tumours were reviewed. Patients whose liver tumours were metastases of colorectal cancer were included in the study provided that they had no extrahepatic metastases and received no loco-ablative treatment simultaneous with hepatectomy.

Synchronous resections of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis by laparoscopic approach.

Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer is common. Resection of solitary tumors of primary and metastatic colorectal cancer can have a favorable outcome. Open resection of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis in one operation or in separate operations is currently common practice.

Analysis of long-term survival after hepatectomy for isolated liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

Background: In the treatment of liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), the role of hepatectomy is controversial. This study tried to identify such role by investigating the immediate and long-term surgical outcomes.

Methods: Data of patients who underwent hepatectomy to treat their metastatic disease were reviewed.

Outcomes of central bisectionectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Central bisectionectomy (resection of Couinaud segments IV, V and VIII) for malignant or benign disease poses a technical challenge to the surgeon but if feasible, has significant benefits in terms of conserving liver volume and options for future intervention. This study reviews a cohort of patients who underwent this procedure; outlines the indications, optimal operative technique as well as both short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed.

Remnant left liver size and recovery of living right liver donors.

Purpose: Living donor liver transplantation is a realistic life-saving treatment in regions where deceased donor organs are scarce. The minimum remnant left liver volume (RLLV) requirement for donor right hepatectomy (DRH) varies in different programs of living donor liver transplantation. The present study aimed to determine how significant the RLLV is in the recovery of right liver donors.

High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation: an effective bridging therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Aim: To analyze whether high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is an effective bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2010, 49 consecutive HCC patients were listed for liver transplantation (UCSF criteria). The median waiting time for transplantation was 9.

Evaluation of the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system for patients undergoing curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for the development of a refined staging system.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system and to compare its efficacy with those of the fifth and sixth editions of the AJCC staging system and the TNM staging system defined by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan.

Methods: Data for 754 patients submitted to hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 1989 and 2005 were reviewed. Tumour-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between subgroups using the log-rank test.

A retrospective study on risk factors associated with failed endoscopic treatment of biliary anastomotic stricture after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis.

Objective: This aim of this study is to determine the risk factors in failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC).

Background: Endoscopic treatment is considered the first-line intervention for biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 287 patients who received right-lobe living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis.

Oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs without hepatitis B immune globulin after liver transplantation for hepatitis B.

Objectives: The long-term outcomes of oral antiviral therapy without hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in prevention of reinfection with hepatitis B after liver transplantation are not known. We aimed to determine the long-term outcomes from a large population of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) liver transplant recipients using oral antiviral therapy alone.

Methods: A total of 362 consecutive CHB patients transplanted from January 2003 to May 2011 were included.

Technical note on complete excision of choledochal cysts.

Background: Choledochal cysts are congenital cystic dilatations of the extrahepatic or intrahepatic portion of the biliary tree. Complete excision of choledochal cysts is currently regarded as the gold standard treatment, while less extensive procedures including cystoduodenostomy have become obsolete due to the potential for malignant change in the remnant cyst. For type-1 choledochal cysts, which sometimes extend to the main pancreatic duct closely, some surgeons may adopt a less aggressive approach in order to avoid damage to the main pancreatic duct as such damage can lead to serious consequences.

Survival analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a non-invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, data on the treatment's long-term outcome are limited. This study analysed the survival outcome of HIFU ablation for HCCs smaller than 3 cm.

Treatment strategy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: salvage transplantation, repeated resection, or radiofrequency ablation?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of salvage liver transplantation (SLT), repeated hepatic resection (RR), and repeated radiofrequency ablation (rRFA) for patients with postoperative tumor recurrence. The optimal treatment strategy for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. From January 1993 to September 2009, 532 patients underwent either hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for HCC within the Milan criteria.

Survival analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy versus radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate our preliminary experience of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Background: HIFU is a new thermal ablative therapy for HCC. Whether it incurs survival benefit similar to that of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains uncertain.

Outcomes of side-to-side conversion hepaticojejunostomy for biliary anastomotic stricture after right-liver living donor liver transplantation.

Background: Conversion hepaticojejunostomy is considered the salvage intervention for biliary anastomotic stricture, a common complication of right-liver living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis, after failed endoscopic treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of side-to-side hepaticojejunostomy with those of end-to-side hepaticojejunostomy.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of 402 adult patients who had undergone right-liver living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis were reviewed.

11C-acetate and 18F-FDG PET/CT for clinical staging and selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplantation on the basis of Milan criteria: surgeon's perspective.

Unlabelled: The success of liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is enhanced by careful patient selection on the basis of the Milan criteria. The criteria are traditionally assessed by contrast CT, which is known to be affected by structural or architectural changes in cirrhotic livers. We aimed to compare dual-tracer ((11)C-acetate and (18)F-FDG) PET/CT with contrast CT for patient selection on the basis of the Milan criteria.

Long-term survival analysis of pure laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis: a single-center experience.

Introduction: Laparoscopic liver resection has been reported as a safe and effective approach to the management of liver cancer. However, studies of long-term outcomes regarding tumor recurrence and patient survival in comparison with the conventional open approach are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the survival outcome of laparoscopic liver resection versus open liver resection.

Surviving emphysematous gastritis after hepatectomy.

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare variant of phlegmonous gastritis due to invasion of stomach wall by gas-forming bacteria. It is characterised by abnormal presence of gas in the stomach by imaging, in association with clinical sepsis. Patients suffering from this condition usually present with an underlying pathology.

Radiological prognosticators of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by hepatectomy.

Background: Hepatectomy is the main curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but postoperative long-term survival is poor. Preoperative radiological features of HCC displayed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging could serve as additional prognostic factors. This study aimed to identify preoperative radiological features of HCC that may be of prognostic significance in hepatectomy.

High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation as a bridging therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients awaiting liver transplantation.

The scarcity of liver grafts in Asia leads to a significant dropout of patients from liver transplant waiting lists, particularly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and a low model for end-stage liver disease score. In order to reduce dropping out, different bridging therapies are employed. We report the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation as a bridging therapy for a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma of stage two and an extremely low platelet count (20X109/L).

Outcome of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Liver resection provides one of the best oncological outcomes for liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer. However, long-term results concerning laparoscopic resection versus open hepatectomy for stage IV colon cancer are still limited. The aim of this study is to compare the survival outcome of laparoscopic liver resection with open liver resection for colorectal metastases.

Update on yttrium-90-based radio-embolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background:   Catheter-based intra-arterial therapies provided effective tumour control for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma without distant metastasis. There was a renewed interest in the advancement of yttrium-90 radio-embolization.

Method:   An extensive search on the MEDLINE databases identified seven case series and two comparative studies regarding yttrium-90 radio-embolization.