Repeat hepatectomy for recurrent malignant tumors of the liver

The results of 34 repeat hepatectomies for recurrent malignant tumors of the liver in 28 patients are reported herein. There was no operative mortality, and the morbidity rate was 15 per cent. No instances of postoperative hepatic insufficiency were observed. Only five of the repeat hepatectomies were extensive (three or more hepatic segments). Thirteen resections were performed upon 11 patients for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. Four of these patients are still alive, one patient with a known recurrence (a mean survival time of 33 months with a range of four to 54 months). Ten resections were performed upon nine patients for recurrent metastases from the colon and rectum. Five of these patients are alive, four without apparent recurrence (a mean survival time of 13 months and a range of one to 35 months). Eleven resections were performed upon eight patients for recurrent miscellaneous malignant tumors, and four patients are alive, of whom three have a recurrence. The results of this study demonstrate that some patients benefit from repeat hepatectomy for recurrence of malignant hepatic tumors. Repeat hepatectomy is technically highly feasible. Economic hepatic resection with a sound oncologic basis (segmentectomy) is the operation of choice.