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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Therapeutic Strategies to Enhance Liver Regeneration
Published on: May 24, 2024
Morbidity and mortality of hepatectomy for benign liver tumors
Timothy E Newhook1, Damien J LaPar1, James M Lindberg1
1Section of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Box 800709, 1215 Lee Street, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Background:
This study compared the morbidity and mortality following hepatectomy for benign liver tumors and hepatic metastases.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study compared patients who underwent hepatectomy for benign liver tumors and metastases reported to National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2005 and 2011.
Results:
A total of 5,542 patients underwent hepatectomy: 1,164 (21%) for benign and 4,378 (79%) for metastatic diseases. Patients with benign tumors were younger, predominantly female, and were less likely to have preoperative comorbidities (all P < .037). Rates of major complications including infections, embolism, renal failure, stroke, coma, cardiac arrest, reoperation, and ventilator dependence were similar between the 2 groups (all P ≥ .05). Thirty-day mortality was .9% among patients with benign tumors and 1.4% among patients with metastases (P = .128). After adjusting for significant effects of age and major complications (both P ≤ .007), benign vs malignant diagnosis and extent of hepatectomy was not associated with 30-day survival (both P ≥ .083).
Conclusions:
Despite patients with benign disease being younger and healthier, risks of major complications are similar after hepatectomy for benign and metastatic disease. Hepatectomy should be offered selectively for patients with benign liver tumors.
