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Kim et al. Hepatoma Res 2021;7:31 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2021.09

Technical Note Open Access

Laparoscopic isolated caudate lobectomy for HCC

1,2
Tae-Seok Kim , Choon Hyuck David Kwon 2
1
Department of Surgery, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu 42601, South Korea.
2
Department of Surgery, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Correspondence to: Prof. Choon Hyuck David Kwon, Department of Surgery, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland
Clinic, 2049 East 100th Street, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. E-mail: chdkwon@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Kim TS, Kwon CHD. Laparoscopic isolated caudate lobectomy for HCC. Hepatoma Res 2021;7:31.
https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2021.09

Received: 28 Jan 2021 First Decision: 19 Feb 2021 Revised: 3 Mar 2021 Accepted: 19 Mar 2021 Available online: 9 Apr 2021
Academic Editors: Ho-Seong Han, Allan Tsung Copy Editor: Yue-Yue Zhang Production Editor: Yue-Yue Zhang

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in caudate lobectomy is not common, but caudate lobectomy is
associated with technical difficulty and high degree of operative risk due to deep location of the caudate lobe and
surrounding major vasculature. Recently, with advances in technology and accumulation of techniques, minimal
invasive surgery has been widely performed in the field of liver surgery. However, laparoscopic isolated caudate
lobectomy is still technically challenging which requires in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the caudate and
extensive experience in laparoscopic liver surgery. This review focuses on the surgical techniques and outcomes of
laparoscopic isolated caudate lobectomy. Although it is difficult to make conclusion regarding oncologic outcome
because only a few studies with limited case numbers have reported oncologic outcome of laparoscopic isolated
caudate lobectomy for HCC, laparoscopic approach could be performed safely with several benefits and become a
favorable method for isolated caudate lobectomy, especially for surgeons with relatively large experience in
laparoscopic liver surgery.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, caudate lobectomy, laparoscopic liver resection, minimal invasive surgery

INTRODUCTION
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe is not commonly seen and its treatment is difficult
because of the tumor’s deep location surrounded by major vessels and complex blood supply .
[1-4]
Furthermore, the prognosis of HCC in the caudate lobe has been reported to be poorer than that of patients
with HCC in other sites [2,5-8] . Surgical resection has been considered as the most effective treatment, but
resection of the caudate lobectomy is associated with technical difficulty and high degree of operative

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