Therefore,

the width of the surgical margin is unlikely to contribute to prognosis. Of 1481 English original articles (1980–2007) identified using “hepatocellular carcinoma” and “surgery” as key words, 29 were about studies investigating prognosis based on the width of the surgical margin. Usually, surgical margin width of 5 mm to 1 cm have been considered not to contribute to prognosis; however, Shi et al. in Hong Kong reported an RCT recommending a surgical this website margin width of 2 cm or more (LF117666 level 1b). Nonetheless, the surgical margin is restricted by liver function, tumor location and size, often making it difficult to secure 2 cm or more in reality. Therefore, it is acceptable to resect a tumor with a minimum width so as to avoid exposing the tumor during hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. CQ22 Does

anatomical resection contribute to prognosis? It is recommended that hepatectomy be performed anatomically. (grade B) A retrospective study in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma of 5 cm or less in diameter demonstrated the superiority of anatomical resection over segmental resection in terms of the survival rate. Particularly, it showed a significant difference in patients with extranodal metastasis (LF001021 level 2b). An evaluation of the recurrence-free survival rate also revealed the superiority of anatomical resection over segmental resection (LF002532 level 2b). Furthermore, the systemic anatomical FK228 mouse segmental and sub-segmental resections were superior to non-anatomical wedge resection in terms of the survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate in patients

with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (LF111483 level 2b). Nonetheless, it has also been reported that a difference in the recurrence-free survival rate is noted only in patients with tumors associated with neither cirrhosis nor infiltration (LF007284 level 2b). Based on the above, anatomical resection is quite likely to improve prognosis. Portal vein invasion Reverse Transcriptase inhibitor is the most important prognostic factor. Therefore, anatomical hepatectomy should be performed in consideration of the distributions of portal veins in a localized tumor area. CQ23 How should blood products (e.g. red blood cell transfusion, frozen plasma) be used during the perioperative period? Homologous red blood cell transfusion should be avoided whenever possible. (grade B) The use of frozen plasma is recommended. (grade C1) Many reports have documented that allogeneic blood transfusion in the perioperative period of hepatectomy should be avoided whenever possible (LF006901 level 2b, LF004532 level 3, LF111453 level 2b). The reasons include that it may promote cancer recurrence, it is likely to induce hyperbilirubinemia and hepatic failure, and a lower hematocrit is desirable for microcirculation in the liver. Nonetheless, it has also been reported that the presence or absence of blood transfusion does not alter the recurrence rate (LF000314 level 3).