# Hepatectomy (liver resection)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/hepatectomy/  
OnCo record `hepatectomy` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Cutting out the part of the liver containing tumour. The liver regrows, so up to 70% can be removed if what remains is healthy.

## Summary

Used for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A, no portal hypertension), for cholangiocarcinoma, and for colorectal liver metastases, where resection gives 5-year survival of 40-50% and is the only curative option. Portal vein embolisation or two-stage hepatectomy grows the future liver remnant before surgery; ablation handles small lesions. Anatomical segments (Couinaud) define the resection; a margin of even 1 mm is acceptable in metastases.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: liver resection; partial hepatectomy; hemihepatectomy; hepatic resection; metastasectomy

## Notes

- Colorectal liver metastases: NICE NG151 says to consider resection, either simultaneous or sequential, after discussion by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in resection of disease in all involved sites; to consider perioperative systemic anticancer therapy if liver resection is a suitable treatment; and to consider chemotherapy with local ablative techniques for liver metastases that are unsuitable for resection after discussion by a specialist multidisciplinary team.

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatectomy
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatectomy
- NICE NG151: colorectal cancer, recommendations: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng151/chapter/Recommendations
- Bowel Cancer UK: treating advanced bowel cancer: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/advanced-bowel-cancer/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/
- Macmillan: treatment for advanced bowel cancer: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bowel-cancer/treatment-for-advanced-bowel-cancer

## Connected records

- terms: [Child-Pugh score](https://onco.cc/terms/child-pugh/), [Downstaging and conversion therapy](https://onco.cc/terms/downstaging/), [Liver-directed therapy (TACE, TARE, HAI, ablation)](https://onco.cc/terms/liver-directed-therapy/), [Radical (extended) cholecystectomy](https://onco.cc/terms/radical-cholecystectomy/), [Resection margins (R0 / R1 / R2)](https://onco.cc/terms/resection-margins/), [Segment IVb and V liver resection (versus wedge resection)](https://onco.cc/terms/segment-ivb-v-resection/)
- cancers: [Advanced and metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/advanced-small-bowel-adenocarcinoma/), [Biliary tract cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)](https://onco.cc/cancers/cholangiocarcinoma/), [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Early hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC 0 and A)](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc-early/), [Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (perihilar and distal)](https://onco.cc/cancers/extrahepatic-cholangiocarcinoma/), [Gallbladder cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gallbladder/), [Grade 3 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour](https://onco.cc/cancers/grade-3-net/), [Hepatocellular carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc/), [Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/intrahepatic-cholangiocarcinoma/), [Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic-net/), [Rectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/rectal-cancer/), [Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours](https://onco.cc/cancers/small-intestinal-net/)
- fronts: [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Surgery for gallbladder cancer: simple versus radical cholecystectomy, re-resection and lymphadenectomy](https://onco.cc/technologies/gallbladder-cancer-surgery/), [Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo)](https://onco.cc/technologies/thermal-ablation/)
- trials: [CAIRO5](https://onco.cc/trials/cairo5/), [CisPlatin plUs Gemcitabine and Nabpaclitaxel (GAP) as pReoperative Chemotherapy Versus Immediate Resection in patIents With resecTable BiliarY Tract Cancers (BTC) at High Risk for Recurrence](https://onco.cc/trials/nct06037980/), [CLOCC](https://onco.cc/trials/clocc/), [EORTC 40983](https://onco.cc/trials/eortc-40983/), [NEOGB](https://onco.cc/trials/neogb/), [New EPOC](https://onco.cc/trials/new-epoc/), [OPT-IN (EA2197)](https://onco.cc/trials/opt-in/)
- institutions: [Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals](https://onco.cc/institutions/addenbrookes-cambridge/), [Belfast Health and Social Care Trust HPB service](https://onco.cc/institutions/belfast-trust-hpb/), [Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth](https://onco.cc/institutions/derriford-plymouth/), [Glasgow Royal Infirmary](https://onco.cc/institutions/glasgow-royal-infirmary/), [King's College Hospital, London](https://onco.cc/institutions/kings-college-hospital-london/), [Liverpool University Hospitals HPB centre (Aintree)](https://onco.cc/institutions/liverpool-hpb-centre/), [Manchester Royal Infirmary HPB Unit](https://onco.cc/institutions/manchester-royal-infirmary/), [Morriston Hospital, Swansea](https://onco.cc/institutions/morriston-swansea/), [Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh](https://onco.cc/institutions/royal-infirmary-edinburgh/), [University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff](https://onco.cc/institutions/university-hospital-wales-cardiff/)
- people: [Hassan Malik](https://onco.cc/people/hassan-malik/), [Jia Fan](https://onco.cc/people/fan-jia/)

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