[Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma--partial hepatic resection under hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery and local ablation therapy with ethanol and radio frequency].

A 76-year old female patient with chronic B type hepatitis had HCC expanding into the extra-hepatic space. In July 2001, we safely performed partial hepatic resection under hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). Three months after the treatment, computed tomography of the liver revealed HCC close to the first branch of right portal vein and bile duct. Although we performed transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the tumor, this treatment was not effective. So we treated percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) for the tumor area neighboring Glisson's capsule and radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) for the tumor. After this treatment the tumor showed no viability on dynamic CT, and there was no liver infarction or damage to the bile duct. Four months after the final treatment, enhanced CT revealed no viable lesion, and serum alpha-fetoprotein level was declining toward the normal range. We conclude that selection of an applicable treatment and approach is of importance for safe and effective therapy.