Liver transplanation

The most frequent tumors of the liver originate from the hepatocytes, bile duct epithelium, and endothelial cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 80% to 90% of primary liver cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma, a neoplasm that arises from the biliary tree, is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy. This article deals with the epidemiology and clinical presentation and the diagnostic confirmation and classification of both conditions, and with the use of liver resection and transplanation treatment for both...

The treatment of umbilical hernia in the setting of cirrhosis poses unique and specific management problems due to the pathophysiology of cirrhotic ascites. The high intra-abdominal pressures generated by ascites when applied to areas of parietal weakness are the cause of hernia formation and enlargement. Successful surgical treatment depends on minimization or elimination of ascites. Umbilical rupture and hernia strangulation are the most life-threatening complications of umbilical hernia with ascites and they demand urgent surgical intervention...

Since the description by Klatskin in 1965, the management of patients with adenocarcinoma of the hepatic bile duct bifurcation is viewed as a challenging clinical problem with a relatively poor prognosis. Surgery continues to be the mainstay of therapy. Complete resection of the tumor with negative histologic margins offers the best possibility of long-term survival, and hepatic resection is a critical component of the operative approach. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has failed to provide a significant survival benefit...

INTRODUCTION: This paper provides a review of the practice of liver transplantation with the main emphasis on UK practice and indications for transplantation. REFERRAL AND ASSESSMENT: This section reviews the process of referral and assessment of patients with liver disease with reference to UK practice. DONOR ORGANS: The practice of brainstem death and cadaveric organ donation is peculiar to individual countries and rates of donation and potential areas of improvement are addressed...

Chemically induced rat hepatocellular carcinomas were prospectively examined for expression of the major group-specific antigen (p 30) of genetically transmitted rat type-C viruses. Ten primary tumors induced following oral administration of the carcinogen N-2-acetylaminofluorine did not express elevated levels of viral antigen as compared to antigen levels detected in normal liver tissue. By contrast, rapidly growing transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas (THCs) derived from primary tumor expressed increased quantities of viral antigen...