[When is resection indicated in primary liver tumors?]

The development of hepatic surgery involved also definition of indications for resection in primary liver tumours. Based on an analysis of a group of 76 patients with primary liver tumours operated in 1978-2001 (up to the end of October) the authors evaluated the indication criteria for resection of primary hepatic tumours. As to benign tumours most frequently haemangiomas were resected (in 35 patients) and follicular nodular hyperplasia in 10 patients. Indication for resection was the symptomatology of the tumour (40x), signs of progression during a check-up examination (13x) or doubts as regards preoperative ruling out of malignity (16x). Hepatocellular adenoma was resected in 8 patients, incl. 7 where the preoperative diagnosis was assessed by bioptic examination. The extent of resection depended on the size and site of the tumour, in haemangiomas and follicular nodular hyperplasia non-anatomical resections predominated (in 27 patients). On account of hepatocellular carcinoma resections were made in 18 patients, incl. 8 who suffered also from cirrhosis which limited the extent of resection. In patients without cirrhosis with carcinoma in one of the lobes an anatomical resection was implemented. Postoperative complications developed in 14 patients (18%), two died (3%) from hepatic failure and pulmonary embolism.