Parenchyma Sparing Anatomic Liver Resections (Bi- and Uni-Segmentectomies) for Liver Tumours in Children—A Single-Centre Experience

Abstract

Purpose: To present a single-centre experience in bi- and uni-segmentectomies for primary liver tumours in children. Methods: This study included 23 patients that underwent (bi)segmentectomy. There were 15 malignant tumours (hepatoblastoma—13 patients), 7 benign tumours, and 1 calcifying nested stromal epithelial tumour. Results: The median tumour diameter was 52 mm (range 15–170 mm). Bisegmentectomy 2–3 was most frequently performed (seven patients), followed by bisegmentectomy 5–6 (four patients). The median operative time was 225 min (range 95–643 min). Intraoperative complications occurred in two patients—small bowel perforation in one and an injury of the small peripheral bile duct resulting in biloma in the other. The median resection margin in patients with hepatoblastoma was 3 mm (range 1–15 mm). Microscopically negative margin status was achieved in 12 out of 13 patients. There were two recurrences. After a median follow-up time of 38 months (range 12–144 months), all 13 patients with HB were alive with no evidence of disease. Two relapsed patients were alive with no evidence of disease. Conclusions: From the available literature and data presented here, we propose that (bi)segmentectomy can become a viable surgical option in carefully selected paediatric patients and is sufficient to achieve a cure. Further studies evaluating the impact of parenchymal preservation surgery on surgical and oncological outcome should be conducted with a larger dataset.