Regeneration of Human Liver After Hepatic Lobectomy Studied by Repeated Liver Scanning and Repeated Needle Biopsy

Abstract

Regeneration of the residual lobe of the liver after hepatic lobectomy in humans was studied by repeated liver scanning in 7 noncirrhotic and 3 cirrhotic patients. Each patient was studied for several mo. during the study which lasted from 1-12 yr. Regeneration was apparent in noncirrhotic liver remnants following hepatic lobectomy. In a long standing, space occupying lesion such as a benign giant cyst, the liver remnant would complete its regeneration process rather early, usually within a few mo. of hepatic lobectomy. In hepatoma cases, regeneration of the residual lobe after hepatic resection usually took 5 or 6 mo. for completion. No definite increase in the size of the liver remnant was seen on repeated liver scanning in cirrhotic patients. Histologic study of the residual lobe was repeated on needle biopsy specimens in 2 non-cirrhotic and 4 cirrhotic patients. Regenerative hyperplasia of liver cells with large hyperchromatic, or double nuclei never seen in the preresection liver appeared in the liver remnant 5, 11, and 27 days after hepatic lobectomy in noncirrhotic patients. In cirrhotics, there were no histologic changes between the preresection liver and the postresection remnant studied 3, 5, 15, 40 days or even 2 yr and 8 mo. after hepatic lobectomy.