Liver Cancer Treatment & Ongoing Care

Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is offered in many institutions for patients with hepatocellular carcinomas of limited extent. These tumors have to be either a solitary lesion of less than five centimeters or up to three lesions of three centimeters or less. Patients with tumors over this size or number have historically been thought to fare poorly with rapid tumor occurrence in most organ recipients. The most recent meeting of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association included a significant discussion among surgeons who felt that liver transplantation may have a place with even larger tumors. As with many questions in medicine, this question will be answered in time.

Transplantation Donors Are Limited

Liver transplantation as a technique also suffers also from the limited number of cadaveric organ donors. As a practical matter, however, a change last year in the national system which governs which patients are transplanted has placed HCC patients with small tumors high up on the transplantation list. The patient with a small hepatocellular carcinoma may have the choice between three options: resection, ablation, and liver transplantation. When a situation arises in which transplantation is a consideration, I will help with appropriate referral.

Contact my office to find out if you may be eligible for liver transplantation.