ABSTRACT
Objective To review the indications,surgical methods,and matters which need attention in partial right diaphragmatic resection,and to summarize our experience of surgical therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with right diaphragmatic invasion.Methods The clinical data of 27 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma which had invaded the diaphragm and had received partial right diaphragmatic resection and partial hepatectomy in our hospital from September 2008 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Results The operations were all performed successfully.The tumor diameter ranged from 5.0 to 15.0 cm (average 8.5 cm).The area of right diaphragm which was resected ranged from 9.0 to 50.0 cm2 (average 28.5 cm2).The operation time was 110～250 min (average 165 min),and blood loss was 450～2600 ml (average 870 ml).Diaphragmatic invasion was confirmed by postoperative histopathology in 9 patients (33.3％).A small quantity of right thoracic effusion was detected in all the cases postoperatively.Other complications included hepatic insufficiency in 4 patients and early postoperative bleeding,upper gastrointestinal bleeding,biliary fistula,and infection under the diaphragm in 1 case each.All patients recovered after conservative treatment.There was no perioperative death.19 patients received other postoperative adjuvant treatment while 6 patients refused further treatment and 2 patients were lost to follow-up.The 0.5-,1-,2,and 3 year survival rates after operation were 92.6％,81.5％,51.9％ and 33.3％ respectively.Conclusions Right diaphragmatic invasion is not a contraindication to surgery.Right diaphragmatic resection was safe and feasible,and postoperative long-term survival was satisfactory.