Rare surgery done on liver cancer patient

The patients with chronic liver conditions, including liver cirrhosis or viral hepatitis, are affected severely due to liver cancer. Though liver transplantation is the treatment option in most cases, there could be complications based on the size of the tumour.

The patient who was brought to Kauvery Hospital had a very large tumour in the liver, which made transplantation difficult as it would not only make the surgery complicated but can also lead to recurrence.

“The tumour was very large in size of about 15 cm x 12 cm. Hence transplantation was not suitable as it would lead to recurrence. After thorough investigations and multi-disciplinary discussion, the tumour was removed by surgery, leaving behind adequate functional liver,” said Dr Elankumaran, senior consultant - liver transplantation and HPB surgery, and clinical lead, Liver Diseases and Transplantation Centre, Kauvery Hospitals.

In most cases, 60 per cent of liver would be removed in a surgery, whereas in this case 70 per cent was removed due to the size of the tumour. Now, the patient will survive on 30 per cent liver for the rest of his life. The patient is recovering well after the surgery and the risk of recurrence is also low, the hospital added in a statement.