Resection of a fibrolamellar carcinoma of the liver originating in the caudate lobe

Abstract

Liver tumors rarely arise in the caudate lobe and resection of such tumors is even more rare. Spigel's lobe resection, first described by Ton Thac Tung, is a very unusual operation and the technique has not been clearly established. Recently, successful resections of the caudate lobe of the liver have been reported. Since Edmonson's first report in 1956, fibrolamellar carcinoma of the liver (FLC) has been recognized as a distinct variant of hepatocellular carcinoma. It occurs, without sexual preference, primarily in adolescents and young adults. Usually, FLC is found in noncirrhotic livers and rarely associated with hepatitis B virus. This tumor presents a high resectability rate (48-100%) with a good prognosis and a mean survival of 68 months. We report a case of fibrolamellar carcinoma arising in the caudate lobe of the liver. Resection of the caudate lobe of the liver was carried out with no morbidity.