title: Agenesis of the left hepatic lobe undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Agenesis of the left hepatic lobe is a rare anomaly. It is defined as the absence of liver tissue to the left of the gallbladder fossa. Additionally, agenesis of the left hepatic lobe accompanied by hepatocellular carcinoma is quite rare. We experienced the case of a patient with agenesis of the left hepatic lobe, undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 79-year-old man was referred to our department with epigastralgia. Abdominal computed tomography revealed agenesis of the left hepatic lobe, accompanied by hepatocellular carcinoma in segments 7 and 8. He underwent laparoscopic partial hepatectomy of segments 7 and 8. The operative findings revealed complete agenesis of the liver to the left of the falciform ligament. The patient had a favorable clinical course without liver dysfunction or any complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We experienced a case with agenesis of the left hepatic lobe undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC. Awareness of such anomaly is important for surgeons to avoid postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. heguchi@gesurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3232-6318
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwagami
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisaku
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asaoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
keywords: Agenesis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Left lobe; Liver