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Laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases is rapidly gaining worldwide acceptance. In the largest and most rigorous propensity score matched study to date comparing laparoscopic and open liver resection, Beppu and colleagues clearly demonstrated the excellent perioperative benefits of the laparoscopic approach, without compromising oncologic outcomes or long-term survival.

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In this large propensity score matched study comparing laparoscopic and open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, Takahara and colleagues confirmed that laparoscopic resection in selected patients is a recommended procedure associated with less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and fewer postoperative complications than open resection, without compromising long-term outcomes.

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Nakamura and colleagues conducted the largest multicenter propensity score matched study to date comparing laparoscopic and open distal pancreatectomy, based on data from 2,266 patients. The laparoscopic procedure was associated with significantly more favorable short-term postoperative outcomes than open surgery, particularly in terms of morbidity and development of pancreatic fistulas.

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Mizuno and colleagues set out to evaluate the efficacy of transhepatic portal vein stenting for severe portal vein stenosis, which is frequently observed in locoregional recurrence after extended resection of perihilar biliary malignancy. Successful stenting provided relief from the symptoms associated with portal vein hypertension and enabled sustainable anticancer therapy.

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In this retrospective immunohistochemical investigation of hepatocellular nodules in patients with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts, Sanada and colleagues found that while the majority of nodules were benign focal nodular hyperplasia, over 30% of the nodules were indicative of the β-catenin-activated hepatocellular adenoma subtype, which has the potential of malignant transformation.

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This is the first study evaluating postoperative recurrence patterns of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in detail over a long follow-up period in accordance with the new International Consensus Guidelines 2012 for the Management of IPMN. On the basis of the results, Yogi and colleagues proposed new follow-up protocols following resection.

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Mizuno and colleagues conducted the first prospective clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of bezafibrate in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Liver function test results were significantly better after 12-week administration than during pre- and post-treatment observation periods, with an efficacy of 64%, suggesting the possibility of a beneficial effect on prognosis.

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With the aim of improving our understanding of prognosis and allowing better long-term management of cirrhosis after primary/secondary prophylaxis for esophageal varices, Maruyama and colleagues in this prospective study identified pre-treatment hyponatremia (<135 mEq/L) as a significant prognostic factor in cirrhosis with Child A/B after eradication of esophageal varices.