Postlaparoscopic hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: Port-site metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, occurs in 90 per cent of the cases in patients with chronic liver disease. Pure laparoscopic liver resection is a less invasive procedure than conventional liver resection for hepatic lesions. Port-site metastasis of HCC is rare. We present a case of port-site metastasis postlaparoscopic resection of HCC. The patient had laparoscopic nonanatomical resection for HCC 3 cm in diameter at segment III. Eleven months postoperative, the patient presented to our Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary with an anterior abdominal wall hard lump where the laparoscopic port had been used for the extraction of HCC and was associated with an elevated α-fetoprotein level. Triphasic computed tomography scan showed HCC. Local excision was performed, and histopathology confirmed HCC. We recommend that examination of port sites after laparoscopic resection of HCC be included in the follow-up protocol.