Partial Hepatectomy

A partial hepatectomy, or liver resection, is a type of surgery designed to remove cancerous tumors from the liver. Because this organ has the remarkable capacity to regenerate itself, it can sometimes restore its mass to compensate for tissue lost through surgery. A liver resection may be recommended to address colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and help prevent further metastasis.

Who's a Candidate for a Partial Hepatectomy?

To determine whether a patient is a candidate for a partial hepatectomy, a physician will usually consider:

• The extent of the cancer – Large or multiple liver tumors, as well as tumors that affect multiple lobes of the liver, can complicate or preclude surgical removal.
• The location of the tumors – Liver tumors that are situated close to blood vessels will guide the extent of resection that is needed.   
• The extent of the surgery that would be required to remove all of the tumor – A significant portion of healthy liver tissue must remain after surgery in order for the organ to function properly and regenerate.
• The overall function of the organ – Patients with advanced cirrhosis are often not candidates for surgery, as their liver may not tolerate the stress of an operation, leading to liver failure.  
• The patient’s overall health – A patient must be healthy enough to undergo surgery and the rehabilitation period that follows.

In the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center, our surgeons are highly skilled in performing innovative surgical techniques, including complex open operations, laparoscopic liver tumor removal and ablations, as well as robotic-assisted operations for treating patients with all stages of liver cancer. In collaboration with the other members of our multispecialty team, a surgeon can assess the specific operation and surgical approach (open or robotic) that is best suited for a patient’s diagnosis to achieve the best outcomes and quality of life.

Sometimes, a patient’s specific case may require a combination of therapies that better address the individual patient and their tumor characteristics. These combined approaches are discussed at Moffitt's liver tumor board, which is comprised of specialists from various treatment modalities, including surgeons, radiologists, interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and more. For instance, following a combination of chemotherapy to shrink a tumor and portal vein embolization to promote liver "growth" prior to surgery, our surgeons may be able to successfully remove a previously inoperable tumor from the patient’s liver.

If you’d like to learn more about partial hepatectomy surgery, the experts at Moffitt can help. Call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online.