The use of innovative equipment for low-traumatic tumor removal operations (ultrasound scalpels for bloodless tissue dissection, video laparoscopic instruments)
A patient with a liver tumor is monitored and treated by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, which minimizes the risk of postoperative complications
Surgeons with extensive experience in performing operations for liver tumors of varying complexity and aggressiveness
High-quality devices for accurate diagnosis of tumors and the ability to perform operations under ultrasound control
Reasons
The cause of all tumors (both benign and malignant) is a genetic breakdown at the level of cell division.
Many doctors associate the appearance of adenomas in women with frequent hormone intake and multiple IVF procedures, but this hypothesis has not been proven. According to this theory, adenoma often affects the liver in men who drink hormones and inject anabolic steroids to increase endurance and the effect of fitness classes. Chronic liver diseases (hepatitis, hepatosis) can also trigger the development of a tumor.
Classification of benign liver tumors
Benign neoplasms of the liver are classified according to size and histology. Adenomas, hemangiomas, and fibronodular hyperplasia are most common.
Hemangiomas
Liver hemangioma is one of the most common benign neoplasms of the liver (it occurs in 5% of the population). This is a vascular tumor that originates from the endothelium. It occurs more often in women than in men. Hemangioma also often affects the liver of newborns and young children. They have large hemangiomas that require regular monitoring and sometimes surgical treatment, as the tumors can affect blood clotting. In adults, hemangiomas rarely have special symptoms, are not prone to rupture and never malignate (do not turn into malignant). They make themselves felt only in the case of large sizes and location in the anterior segments of the liver (they put pressure on the abdominal wall, which can cause pulling pains in the upper half of the abdomen). Neoplasms can be single, multiple, small (up to 5 cm) and large (more than 5 cm). There is another disease – hemangiomatosis of the liver, when a benign neoplasm completely occupies the organ, but does not prevent it from functioning. In this case, surgery is not indicated, a patient with such a tumor is regularly monitored by a doctor, and liver transplantation is required only in extremely rare cases.
Fibronodular hyperplasia
The second name of the disease is nodular fibrous hyperplasia. Fibronodular hyperplasia is the least common of all liver tumors, occurring in only 1% of the population. This is a pseudotumor consisting of unchanged liver cells, on ultrasound, CT and MRI they look like nodes. The attributes of a healthy liver are preserved, but there is a scar in the center of the organ. Fibronodular hyperplasia can sometimes resemble a primary malignant liver tumor (fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma), so it is important to do a biopsy and make sure there is no cancer.
Adenomas
Liver adenomas are much less common than hemangiomas (3 per 100,000 population). With certain immunohistochemical characteristics, a tumor is prone to malignancy (malignant transformation) and rupture, therefore, with a size of more than 5 cm, it is important to clarify its histological shape in time and, if necessary, perform surgery.
Diagnosis of benign liver tumors
Ultrasound is used to diagnose liver tumors, which makes it possible to detect a neoplasm. Then the patient undergoes computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast. The third important study is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a hepatospecific contrast agent.
Treatment of benign liver tumors
Surgical treatment of benign tumors is necessary in cases where the patient has symptoms such as pain or cosmetic defects (deformity of the anterior abdominal wall in large tumors). Also, the need for surgery is determined depending on the type of tumor and the rate of its growth. If the hemangioma grows by 5 cm per year and is located in the anterior segments of the liver, surgeons may recommend surgery. In all other cases, dynamic monitoring of hemangiomas is indicated: they are not life-threatening. In the case of adenoma, some of its types are prone to malignancy – the acquisition by a benign tumor of the properties of malignant neoplasms, therefore they are also recommended to be removed, especially if they grow rapidly and there is a risk of rupture.
Rehabilitation
- The duration of rehabilitation depends on how much of the liver was removed: if most of it is removed, the patient stays in the hospital for 10-12 days.
- After 2-3 days, the patient is already moving around the ward on his own.
Two weeks after the operation, the patient returns to his usual lifestyle.
- Heavy physical activity is prohibited for three months after open surgeries.
Typical resection
If the tumor is located in the second segment of the liver, then only it is removed. In this case, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is possible.
Surgical intervention with this method of tumor removal takes place under the control of a videolaparoscope.
An open operation
If the tumor is too large and occupies the entire right or left lobe of the organ, open surgery is required in most cases.
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