Liver resection, or hepatectomy, is surgery to remove the part of the liver that contains a tumour. It can treat primary liver cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, and cancers that have spread to the liver, most commonly from the colon or rectum. Because the healthy liver can regrow, a significant portion can be removed safely in suitable patients.
Which Cancers Can Be Treated?
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer)
- Colorectal liver metastases
- Some neuroendocrine tumour metastases
- Bile duct cancers involving the liver
- Selected other secondary liver cancers
Key Factors in Deciding
Tumour location and number
Tumours must be removable with clear margins.
Future liver remnant
Enough healthy liver must remain after surgery. Surgeons calculate this with scans.
Liver health
People with advanced cirrhosis may not tolerate resection. Other treatments or transplant may be considered.
Spread outside the liver
Limited spread may still allow surgery in some cases, especially colorectal cancer.
General fitness
Heart, lung and kidney health matter for major surgery.
Can the Liver Regrow?
Yes. A healthy liver can regenerate to near its original size within weeks to months after resection. This is why large portions can sometimes be removed.
Techniques to Increase Suitability
- Portal vein embolisation: blocks blood flow to the part being removed so the remaining liver grows first
- Two-stage surgery: removes tumours in two operations
- Chemotherapy first: shrinks tumours to allow removal
Surgical Approaches
- Open surgery
- Laparoscopic or robotic surgery for selected tumours
Recovery
- Hospital stay of about five to ten days
- Monitoring liver function and blood tests
- Gradual return to normal activity over several weeks
- Regular follow-up scans
Possible Risks
- Bleeding
- Bile leak
- Infection
- Temporary liver dysfunction
Key Takeaways
- Liver resection treats primary and secondary liver cancers.
- Enough healthy liver must remain.
- The liver can regrow after surgery.
- Chemotherapy or embolisation can expand options.
- Liver health strongly affects suitability.
Final Thoughts
Liver resection can offer long-term control and even cure for selected patients. A detailed assessment shows whether it is right for you. For liver cancer surgery evaluation, you can consult Dr. Varadharajan, a surgical oncologist in Chennai.
