Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and one of the commonest solid organ malignancies worldwide [1]. It occurs mainly in the background of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Tumour size larger than 10 cm is defined as large HCC and the only means of cure in such patients is complete tumour resection. Surgical resection is indicated in solitary tumour of any size, Child-Pugh class A, absence of portal hypertension or extra hepatic disease [1, 2]. Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is an important and appealing alternative to PVE to induce rapid liver hypertrophy. The main indications for ALPPS are extensive bi-lobar colorectal liver metastases with a future liver remnant < 25% [3, 4]. According to the first international consensus meeting on ALPPS, the procedure is indicated in selected patients with HCC [5]. Due to higher morbidity and mortality associated with ALPPS, its use has not been widespread and should be attempted in carefully selected patients in high volume centres. It is a fairly new technique and not much literature is available with respect to the Indian population.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old lady without any co-morbidities and ECOG 1 performance status, presented with epigastric pain and weight loss of 5 months duration. She was not icteric and abdominal examination revealed a large mass arising from the liver. Blood investigations including liver function test and prothrombin time with INR were within normal limits. Abdominal ultrasound and a triphasic CT showed a large tumour (14.6 × 10.9 × 14.5 cm) occupying segments V, VII, VIII and IV of the liver with enhancement in arterial phase and washout in the portal venous phase suggestive of HCC (Fig. 1). AFP levels were 204 ng/ml. Serology for hepatitis B and C were negative. There was no evidence of extrahepatic metastases on staging workup with PET-CT. CT volumetry revealed FLR volume (segments II and III) to be 21% of total liver volume rendering it unsuitable for single stage hepatectomy. The case was discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and ALPPS was preferred over PVE as the liver in this case was non-cirrhotic and the outcomes of ALPPS procedure performed previously at our centre were favourable. After a negative diagnostic laparoscopy for metastatic disease, partial ALPPS was performed. No liver mobilisation was done in the first stage. Portal structures were dissected, the right hepatic artery, right portal vein and right hepatic vein were looped. The right portal vein was divided and suture ligated. Segment-IV artery was identified and preserved. Liver partition was performed using a Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA). Parenchymal transection was performed till the middle hepatic vein was identified before joining the left hepatic vein (Fig. 2). Surgicel was placed over the transection plane, and the abdomen was closed over an abdominal drain. The duration of surgery was 6 h with a blood loss of 250 ml. CT volumetry was repeated on post operative day 8 which revealed the FLR volume to be 35%, a 14% increase from the baseline and adequate to obviate the risk of PHLF. The second stage of ALPPS was performed 10 days after the first stage. At exploration adequate hypertrophy of the left lateral segment was observed. The right liver lobe was mobilised. The right hepatic artery, right hepatic duct, right hepatic vein and the middle hepatic vein were divided and ligated and parenchymal transection was completed (Fig. 3). Duration of the second stage and blood loss was 4 h and 750 ml respectively. Two units of packed red blood cells were transfused. Post operative recovery of the patient was uneventful. Histopathology of the tumour was reported as well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, T1N0M0. There was no recurrence at 16 months of follow-up. A written informed consent was obtained from the patient regarding the possible publication of the case.

Fig. 1
figure 1

CT volumetry images before and after 1st stage of ALPPS showing hypertrophy of segments 2 and 3 after ALPPS 1

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Fig. 2
figure 2

a ALPPS 1. b Completing parenchymal transection in ALPPS 2

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Fig. 3
figure 3

a FLR after ALPPS 2. b Right trisectionectomy specimen

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Discussion

HCC is a common and heterogeneous disease. Liver resection and transplantation are the only procedures associated with long-term survival and cure of the disease. Major liver resection is feasible in patients without cirrhosis or who have well-preserved liver function and future liver remnant of at least 25%. However, it is possible in fewer than 5% of patients. Liver transplantation is indicated in patients with a single nodule up to 5 cm in size or three nodules up to 3 cm in size each [1, 2]; though beyond Milan’s criteria, recommendations have also produced good results. For large HCC in patients without cirrhosis, resection is the only option for cure.

The limiting factor for major hepatectomy in large HCCs is inadequate FLR. There are several methods to increase the FLR to obviate the risk of post hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), the most commonly practised being portal vein embolization (PVE) [6]. The disadvantages of the procedure are mainly, inability to achieve adequate volume increase, delay of 4-6 weeks for the hypertrophy to occur and risk of progression of disease in this waiting period. Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a novel technique developed in Germany by Schnitzbauer et al. [3]. It is a two-step procedure combining parenchymal division with deportalisation of the right lobe and segment-IV in the first stage followed by completion hepatectomy in the second stage after a short interval of 7-10 days once adequate hypertrophy of FLR is achieved. The advantage is rapid and increased hypertrophy thus overcoming the disadvantages associated with PVE. It is an aggressive surgical approach for tumours considered unresectable in a single stage and an accepted alternative for a large HCC. However, it should be used selectively for patients who are not candidates for PVE due to tumour invasion of the portal vein, or as a rescue therapy after failed PVE or ligation. It can also be used as an upfront procedure and preferred over PVE in selected patients with good performance status and good liver function with HCC in a non-cirrhotic liver as in our case. It has the advantage of achieving rapid liver hypertrophy and complete tumour resection within a short interval with less incidence of post operative liver failure.

The increase in FLR volume has been reported to be between 23.8 and 200% (mean 84.16%) after an interval of 4-30 days (mean 11.6 days) between the two stages of ALPPS. In our case, there was a 14% increase in FLR after an interval of 8 days. The main drawback of ALPPS is the associated morbidity and mortality reported as 35% (range 22-90%) and 12% (range 0-28.7%) respectively [7, 8]. Increased incidence of recurrence (up to 20%) has been reported in the remnant liver, probably due to the aggressive biology of the tumour [7, 8]. However, recent results from the international ALPPS registry have shown a reduction in morbidity and mortality when performed at experienced centres. Giovanni et al. have shown that ALPPS can be performed safely in large HCC’s with acceptable overall survival and disease-free survival [9].

Conclusion

ALPPS is an appealing and feasible option for otherwise unresectable large HCCs. It provides the best chance at cure for patients who are otherwise candidates for palliative therapy. Cautious patient selection and technical expertise is of utmost importance. However, its feasibility in patients with cirrhosis and macrovascular invasion remains to be determined. As a limitation, the authors do accept that clinical data from a single patient might not yield appropriate outcomes when extrapolated to a larger population. Hence, needful larger trials are warranted.