Surgical treatment for liver cancer. Current issues

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has developed remarkable for several reasons. The surgical mortality rates of patients with HCC after hepatectomy have decreased due to appropriate criteria for surgery, refined surgical techniques and improvement in the pre- and postoperative management. In preoperative management, refinements in liver function tests and strategies for esophageal varices, and the induction of preoperative portal vein embolization have contributed favorably to the outcome after hepatectomy for HCC. Furthermore, hepatectomy has been technically refined by various vascular control methods and liver transection devices based on the realization that surgical anatomical information also plays a major role in improving surgical outcome. Also concomitant splenectomy with hepatectomy might extend the criteria for surgery in HCC patients with hypersplenism. Therefore, hepatectomy is a safe therapeutic approach that could bring about a favorable outcome in patients with HCC. Nowadays transplantation is one of the therapeutic options for HCC patients, even in Japan. Herein the surgical treatment of HCC in Japan is reviewed and current issues in the surgical treatment of HCC are discussed.