title: Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation in the caudate lobe for hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The caudate lobe, because of its location and its highly unpredictable vascular anatomy, is one of the most surgical challenging segment of the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of the caudate lobe in cirrhotic patients is not easily amenable to surgical resection. In order to treat HCC and to down-stage these patients within accepted criteria for liver transplantation (LT), laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present three cases of laparoscopic RFA for caudate lobe HCC. All three patients were successfully treated with laparoscopic RFA. The computed tomography scans 1 month postsurgery revealed complete necrosis of the lesion. No postoperative complications occurred, and all patients had a short postoperative stay. All three patients underwent, thereafter, LT from a deceased donor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic RFA is the treatment of choice in patients with HCC who could be scheduled for LT. Furthermore, a laparoscopic technique with an accurate ultrasound examination of liver parenchyma can allow for a complete exclusion of hepatic lesions undetectable at the preoperative imaging and provides the minimal onset of adhesions, both approaches that are extremely useful in patients undergoing liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Multivisceral Transplant Center, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. f.diben@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montalti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballarin
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Sandro
authors.forename: Giorgio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gerunda
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome