[Surgical treatment of primary cancers of the liver]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent malignant tumor of the liver and is associated with cirrhosis in 90% of cases. It is often a multicentric tumor with vascular involvement but surgical resection, when it is possible, remains the best treatment of HCC. Major resection is feasible in patients without liver insufficiency; patients with mild liver insufficiency can be treated by local resection. In selected cases, liver transplantation is indicated in order to prevent the high risk of recurrence of HCC which is observed after resection.