ROUTINE ANGIOGRAPHY FOLLOWING PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT LESIONS OF THE LIVER

Abstract

Postoperatively, celiac and superior mesenteric angiography was performed upon 17 consecutive patients with malignant lesions of the liver who had undergone partial hepatectomy. Residual or recurrent tumors were detected in 6 patients. The causes of residual tumors were classified into 4 patterns; multiple dissemination probably by surgical manipulation, residual tumor at the site of the resectioned stump, erroneous diagnosis preoperatively due to the uptake of contrast material by the major tumor and metachronous occurrence of tumors. Rational treatments for these tumors were proposed. In addition, vascular patterns of the regenerating liver were evaluated in the remaining 11 patients. Stretching and elongation of not only the hepatic artery but also the portal vein in the hepatic remnant were constant findings. The differentiation of residual tumors from regenerating nodules was also discussed.