Liver cancer surgery is one option for treating liver cancer. If the entire liver is infiltrated by the tumor, surgical removal is only possible in combination with a transplant. For solitary tumors located in only one lobe of the liver, liver cancer surgery is the treatment of choice.
Here you will find further information as well as a selection of obesity specialists and centers.
Liver cancer surgery is performed to remove liver tumors. During the procedure, parts of a liver lobe, an entire liver lobe, or even the entire organ may be removed.
After surgical removal of the entire liver, a liver transplant must follow, as the liver performs vital functions. However, liver transplants are only an option for a small percentage of patients (less than 5%).
A partial surgical resection of liver tissue is the treatment of choice for tumors that
The goal is to remove all of the tumor tissue. If this is achieved, liver cancer surgery is often curative—that is, the disease is cured. Early diagnosis is essential for this.
More than 75% of liver cancer cases are already too advanced for complete surgical removal at the time of diagnosis.
Liver cancer surgery is
. If the tumor has already spread throughout the body (metastases), the surgeon, together with the treating internist, will assess whether surgery is likely to improve the patient’s condition.
Before any surgery, the doctor therefore checks liver function. The patient’s overall health also plays a role in the decision to perform liver cancer surgery.
Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) is a malignant tumor that can spread to other organs. It originates directly from malignant liver cells. The lungs or bones are frequently affected. Primary liver cancer can develop from hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver.
In addition, there is cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC), which originates in the cells of the bile ducts. However, it can spread into the liver tissue.
Secondary liver cancer, however, is more common than primary liver cancer. This refers to liver metastases—tumors that have spread from other organs. Tumors
can, for example, spread to the liver.
To successfully treat secondary liver cancer, the primary tumor must first be located and treated.
The anatomy of the liver © Henrie | AdobeStock
Before liver cancer surgery, the doctor will perform various tests. This allows the doctor to rule out any underlying conditions and determine whether the liver tumor is benign or malignant. These may include
. The latter are often used to plan surgery.
General anesthesia is required for the surgery. The surgeon then makes an incision in the abdomen to gain access to the liver. Liver tumors must be removed with a sufficient margin of healthy tissue to ensure that no tumor cells remain.
The tumors can be removed using the following methods:
If the remaining liver is healthy, up to three-quarters of the liver tissue can be removed without causing any functional impairment.
After liver cancer surgery, the doctor will conduct regular checkups to rule out a recurrence of the disease. These checkups consist of blood tests or ultrasound scans of the liver and take place approximately every six months.
If changes in the liver tissue are suspected, a biopsy is usually performed.
After liver surgery, the patient must avoid risk factors for liver disease. These include
German Cancer Aid (www.krebshilfe.de) offers comprehensive information for patients and their families. It also helps connect you with support groups.
The more liver tissue that is removed and the longer the surgery lasts, the higher the risk of complications. Treatment risks associated with liver cancer surgery include, for example,
The prognosis for liver cancer depends heavily on how early the disease is detected. Key factors include
The location of the liver tumors—and thus their accessibility—is also crucial.
Following successful liver cancer surgery, the survival time is more than five years in many cases.
Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
