Is the Indication of Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Expanding with the Application of Laparoscopic Approach?

Liver resection (LR) for the patients of hepatocellular carcinoma, often with chronic liver disease, have high risks of developing significant postoperative complications and multicentric metachronous repeat lesions with the need of repeat treatments. Reduction of surgery-induced parenchymal injury and destruction of the collateral blood/lymphatic flow, which leads to less post-operative ascites production, and facilitation of repeat LR with less adhesion and improved vision/manipulation between adhesions are among the advantages of laparoscopic LR. These characteristics of laparoscopic LR may lead to expanding indication of LR.