Is there any benefit from expanding the criteria for the resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic liver? Experience from a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Patients with large-size (>10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Child B cirrhosis are usually excluded from curative treatment, i.e., hepatic resection, because of marginal liver function and poor outcome. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of the radiofrequency (RF)-assisted sequential "coagulate-cut liver resection technique" in expanding the criteria for resection of large HCC in cirrhotic livers with impaired liver function. METHODS: Forty patients with Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis underwent liver resection from December 1, 2001 to December 31, 2008. Of these, 20 patients (13 Child-Pugh A and 7 Child-Pugh B) with advanced stage HCC (stage B and C according to Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Group) underwent major liver resection. The two groups were comparable in terms of patient age, liver cirrhosis etiology, tumor number, and size. RESULTS: All resections were performed without the Pringle maneuver. There was no significant difference found between the two groups regarding resection time, perioperative transfusion, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and day 7 values of hemoglobin and liver enzymes. Likewise, there was no significant difference found in the overall survival between Child A and Child B patients who underwent major liver resection CONCLUSIONS: RF-assisted sequentional "coagulate-cut liver resection technique" may be a viable alternative for management of patients with advanced HCC in cirrhotic liver with impaired function.

Multiple port-site metastasis of incidental gallbladder carcinoma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure of choice for benign gallbladder diseases. In about 1-2% of cases histopathological examination demonstrate incidental gallbladder cancer (GBCA). We report a case of a 61 year old woman who developed port site metastases after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. Metastases appeared on all four port sites. Review of literature regarding incidental GBCA an port site metastases was also performed. We conclude that the retrieval bag should be routinely used in laparoscopic cholecystectomy; the procedure should be performed with minimal trauma; in cases of incidental GB carcinoma, full thickness excision of the abdominal wall of the port sites demands additional studies; additional liver bed excision and local lymphadenectomy for T1b carcinoma are yet to be considered.