[Progress in surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma]

Before 1980, the surgical procedure for liver resection was limited to major hepatectomy. Anatomical resection for subsegmentectomy based on liver anatomy was established after 1980. Surgical techniques to resect nonpalpable and nonvisible tumors and devices to reduce blood loss in the resection plane of the liver are mandatory when performing subsegmentectomy. Intraoperative ultrasound has played a major role in the progress achieved. Hepatectomy procedures preservation of the inferior right hepatic vein, and preoperative portal vein embolization have also contributed to progress in the field of liver surgery.