The successful posterior sectionectomy accompanied with caudate lobectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma located in segment 1 after LEN-TACE: a case report

TL;DR

A patient with a large liver tumor near major blood vessels successfully underwent surgery after treatment with a drug and embolization, avoiding injury and recurrence.

Contribution

A novel multi-modal strategy combining Lenvatinib-TACE and hepatectomy is proposed for large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Findings

LEN-TACE treatment successfully reduced tumor size and devascularized it.

Radical hepatectomy was safely performed without vascular injury.

No tumor recurrence was observed for one year post-surgery.

Abstract

Nowadays, the novel molecular targeting chemotherapy provides possibility of safe hepatectomy for progressive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Further, combination of the conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) may add an effect of tumor shrink. We present a successful radical hepatectomy for a large HCC located in segment 1 accompanied with the preoperative Lenvatinib (LEN)-TACE sequential treatment. We present a woman patient without any complaints who had a 7 cm-in-size of solitary HCC compressing vena cava and right portal pedicle. To achieve radical hepatectomy by tumor shrinking, LEN-TACE for 2 months. After confirming downsizing or devascularization of the HCC, we scheduled radical posterior sectionectomy combined with caudate lobectomy according to tumor location and expected future remnant liver volume from three-dimensional computed tomography simulation before surgery. Under the thoraco-abdominal incision laparotomy, we safely achieved scheduled radical hepatectomy without any vascular injuries. The postoperative course was uneventful and no tumor recurrence were observed for 1 year. Histological findings showed the Japan TNM stage III HCC with 70% necrosis. The multi-modal strategy of LEN-TACE followed by radical hepatectomy by confirming downsizing or devascularization in tumor is supposed to be useful and would be a preoperative chemotherapy option, and promising for curative treatment in HCC patients with progressive or large HCC, which may lead to safety by prevention surrounding major vascular injury.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12328-024-01929-8.

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