title: What we learned from difficult hepatectomies in patients with advanced hepatic malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  By reviewing difficult resections for advanced hepatic malignancies, we discuss the effectiveness and extended indications for hepatectomy in such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 7 patients who underwent extensive surgery between July 2008 and March 2011 for advanced hepatic malignancies. They had stage IV disease, except for in one case that was a stage IIIC (T4N0M0) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient 1 with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) underwent right hemihepatectomy and resection of the bile duct and left portal vein. At 39 months after surgery, she had no recurrence or metastasis. Patient 2 with HCC underwent palliative right trisectionectomy. At 38 months after surgery, he is alive despite residual pulmonary metastases. Patient 3 with HCC invading the hepatic vein and diaphragm underwent right trisectionectomy and caval venoplasty. At 12 months after surgery, he had no recurrence or metastasis. Patient 4, who had 2 large HCCs and pulmonary thromboembolism, underwent a right trisectionectomy. At 7 months after surgery, he had no evidence of recurred HCC. Patient 5, who had IHCC invading her inferior vena cava and main portal vein, underwent preoperative radiotherapy, left hemihepatectomy, and caval resection. At 20 months after surgery, she is well despite a caval thrombus. Patient 6 and 7 underwent repeated surgery due to a recurred IHCC and metastatic colon cancer, respectively. In addition, they are alive during each 20 and 17 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite macroscopic extrahepatic metastases or major vessel involvement, extensive surgery for advanced hepatic malignancy may result in relatively favorable outcomes and be important modality for improving of survival in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yeup
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Keun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Hepatectomy; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma