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Feasible and safe treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients

Date:
February 4, 2010
Source:
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Summary:
A research team from Hong Kong reported a case of repeated laparoscopic hepatectomy treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its recurrence in an aged patient having cirrhosis, a disease causing extra difficulty for performing laparoscopic hepatectomy. This case report illustrates that laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC is a good alternative to open hepatectomy because it has advantages including causing less adhesion after surgery, which renders re-operation much easier in cases of recurrence.
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Conventional hepatectomy is an effective way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is invasive and stressful. Laparoscopic surgery, a kind of minimally invasive surgery, has recently gained considerable advances. The use of laparoscopy in hepatectomy, while technically demanding, reduces surgical invasiveness and stressfulness but still achieves complete resection with adequate margins.

A research team, led by Professor Tan To Cheung from The University of Hong Kong reported a laparoscopic hepatectomy treating HCC and its recurrence in an aged cirrhotic patient and describes the surgical techniques therein. Their study will be published on January 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Their report displayed characteristic results of laparoscopic hepatectomy such as smaller wounds, less blood loss, less pain, less scars and adhesion, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and faster recovery. It is a comparatively less invasive procedure that offers a chance of surgical clearance of tumors. Further studies with greater numbers of patients and longer follow-up are needed for a better perspective regarding the role of laparoscopic hepatectomy in the management of HCC.


Story Source:

Materials provided by World Journal of Gastroenterology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Cheung TT, Ng KK, Poon RT, Chan SC, Lo CM, Fan ST. A case of laparoscopic hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2010; 16 (4): 526 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i4.526

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World Journal of Gastroenterology. "Feasible and safe treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 February 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101732.htm>.
World Journal of Gastroenterology. (2010, February 4). Feasible and safe treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101732.htm
World Journal of Gastroenterology. "Feasible and safe treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101732.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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