Preferred Treatment with Curative Intent for Left Lateral Segment Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma under the Era of Minimal Invasive Surgery

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurring at the left lateral segment (LLS) is relatively susceptible to treatment with curative intent in terms of tumor location. However, outcomes might vary depending on the selection of treatment modalities. This study aimed to analyze patients who had undergone curative treatment for early HCC at LLS. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 179 patients who underwent curative treatment for early HCC at LLS was performed. Patients were grouped based on treatment modalities, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and liver resection (LR). The long-term outcomes of the two groups were compared. Additionally, the impact of the LR approach on patient outcomes was analyzed. Results: Among these patients, 60 received RFA and 119 underwent LR as primary treatment with curative intent. During follow-up, a significantly higher incidence of HCC recurrence was observed in the RFA group (37/60, 61.7%) than in the LR group (45/119, 37.8%) (p = 0.0025). The median time of HCC recurrence was 10.8 (range: 1.1–60.9 months) and 17.6 (range: 2.4–94.8 months) months in the RFA and LR groups, respectively. In addition, multivariate analysis showed that liver cirrhosis, multiple tumors, and RFA treatment were significant risk factors for HCC recurrence. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival rates in the RFA and LR groups were 96.4%, 92.2%, and 71.5% versus 97.3%, 93.6%, and 87.7%, respectively. (p = 0.047). Moreover, outcomes related to LR were comparable between laparoscopic and conventional open methods. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year recurrence free survival rates in the laparoscopic (n = 37) and conventional open (n = 82) LR groups were 94.1%, 82.0%, and 66.9% versus 86.1%, 74.6%, and 53.1%, respectively. (p = 0.506) Conclusion: Early HCC at LLS had satisfactory outcomes after curative treatment, in which LR seems to have a superior outcome, as compared to RFA treatment. Moreover, laparoscopic LR could be considered a preferential option in the era of minimally invasive surgery.

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma diagnosed by needle biopsy: a case report

Background Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are extremely rare. The rate of recurrence after resection is extremely high, and the prognosis is poor. It is debatable whether chemotherapy or surgical resection is the optimal initial treatment for primary hepatic NECs. Therefore, selecting an appropriate therapeutic approach for patients with primary hepatic NECs remains clinically challenging. We present a case of primary hepatic NEC in a patient who developed recurrence after undergoing surgical resection. Case presentation A 78-year-old man with bone metastases of prostate cancer was referred to our department because of a solitary 66-mm tumor in the left lateral segment of the liver, which was detected on annual follow-up by computed tomography after prostate resection. A biopsy and preoperative diagnostic workup identified the lesion as a primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma; therefore, left lateral segmentectomy was performed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and CD 56, and the Ki-67 index was 40%. This neuroendocrine carcinoma was classified as a large cell type. Adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin + etoposide was initially administered a month after surgery. However, lymph node recurrence occurred 4 months after surgery, and the patient died of systemic metastases 15 months after surgical resection. Conclusions Due to the lack of availability of abundant quantities of relevant, high-quality data, there is no standard therapy for primary hepatic NECs. Selecting the most appropriate treatment for patients depending on several factors, such as the stage and differentiation of a tumor and a patient’s performance status and clinical course, is consequently preferred. More cases need to be studied to establish the best treatment strategy for primary hepatic NEC.

Modified Dual Hepatic Vein Anastomosis in Pediatric Living-Donor Liver Transplantation Using Left Lateral Segment Grafts With Two Wide Orifices

Background: The anatomic variation of hepatic vein in the left lateral segment (LLS) increases the risk of outflow complication in pediatric living liver transplantation (LDLT). Here, we share a modified method for dual hepatic vein reconstruction in pediatric LDLT using LLS with two wide orifices.Methods: From Sep 2018 to Dec 2019, 434 pediatric LDLTs using LLS were performed in our center. Hepatic veins of grafts were classified into three types with emphasis on the number, size, and location of orifices at the cut surface: a single opening (type I, n = 341, 78.57%); two adjacent orifices (type II, n = 66, 15.21%); two wide orifices with orifices distances <20 mm (type IIIa, n = 15, 3.46%); and two wide orifices with orifices distances >20 mm (type IIIb, n = 12, 2.76%). Rv was defined as the ratio of diameter of V2 and V3 (refer to hepatic vein drained segments II and III). We developed a modified dual hepatic vein anastomosis to reconstruct outflow for type IIIb grafts with Rv ≤1. Briefly, the hepatic vein of segment II was anastomosed to the common stump of middle hepatic vein (MHV) and left hepatic vein (LHV), followed by unification of V3 and the longitudinal incision orifice in inferior venous cave (IVC).Results: During median follow-up of 15.6 months (7.5–22.9 months), no hepatic vein complications occurred.Conclusion: This novel modified dual hepatic vein anastomosis could serve as a feasible surgical option for type IIIb LLS grafts with Rv ≤1 in pediatric LDLT.

A rare case report: left-sided gall bladder without situs inversus viscerum

Left-sided gall bladder without situs inversus viscerum is a rare clinical entity. A left-sided gall bladder is a rare congenital anomaly defined as a gall bladder attached to the lower surface of the left lateral segment of the liver, to the left of the inter-lobar fissure and round ligament. We reported our experience of one cases of left-sided gall bladder in a woman aged 45 years who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis. Left-sided gall bladder may provide an unusual surprise to the surgeons during laparoscopy as routine pre-operative studies may not always detect the anomaly. Awareness of the unpredictable confluence of the cystic duct into the common bile duct (CBD) and selective use of intraoperative cholangiography aid in the safe laparoscopic management of this unusual entity. One previous case reported had shown cystic duct opened into the common hepatic duct on its right side in a patient with left sided gall bladder.

Rare bile leak from left triangular ligament

Variations of the biliary system present challenges to abdominal operations and can affect postoperative outcomes. Bile leak is an uncommon complication of total gastrectomy. However, any procedure that involves mobilisation of the left lobes of the liver should be executed with additional caution. A thorough assessment including preoperative imaging for aberrant anatomy should be performed, especially aberrant bile ducts in the left triangular ligament. Ligation or suturing of the left triangular ligament should be considered when the aberrant anatomy suggests, to decrease the risk of postoperative bile leak. In addition, the left lateral segment of the liver should be thoroughly inspected on initial completion of the operation.

Pediatric Thoracoscopic Repair of Diaphragmatic Herniation Following Liver Transplantation

Diaphragmatic Hernia (DH) after Liver Transplantation (LT) is a rare complication with unclear pathophysiology. Among 261 LT, we recognized six DH during the post transplant period (2.30%). All patients with DH had received a left lateral segment (LLS) reduced graft. The mean graft weight was 340g with a mean graft-to-recipient body weight ratio (GBWR) of 4.20%. LLS grafts, a GBWR > 4%, previous abdominal surgery and direct trauma during surgery can be enumerated as potential risk factors for DH post-LT. These children underwent prompt surgical intervention to DH without complications. Three patients were treated via laparotomy and three by thoracoscopy. No clinical recurrences were accounted at a mean follow up of 5 years. Historically, the treatment has always been surgical repair via laparotomy but the use of minimally invasive techniques in pediatric surgery has been increasing, and the thoracoscopic approach for DH can bring advantages. The patients in which the thoracoscopic approach was used had shorter operative times and a faster recovery with better cosmetic results. As previous surgical manipulation had been done to the abdominal cavity, thoracoscopy seems to be a safe approach in DH in pediatric LT recipients.