Since 1991 when it was first described by Delaitre, the laparoscopic approach has become the standard technique for most cases of elective splenectomy. An increased technical skill among surgeons has extended the application for laparoscopic splenectomy to safely include patients…
The spleen has been a source of intrigue and mystery since ancient times, and its anatomy and function have been contemplated by ancient Egyptians and Chinese as far back as 1550 bc . The spleen was variably thought to be…
Portal venous hypertension is an entity that is defined by the presence of elevated hydrostatic pressure in the hepatic portal veins greater than 8 mm Hg. In practice it is understood as the constellation of clinical consequences from an abnormally high…
Secondary hepatic neoplasms refer to a heterogeneous collection of tumors that metastasize to the liver. By definition, these cancers develop from other organ sites but share a common metastatic pathway. Tumors that hematogenously disseminate to the liver include carcinomas (e.g.,…
Primary hepatic malignancies consist of a diverse spectrum of tumors that arise from an equally diverse population of cells that constitute this complex organ. In addition to hepatocytes, the liver is made of cholangiocytes, neuroendocrine cells, hepatic progenitors, myofibroblastic mesenchymal…
Epidemiology and Etiology Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignancy in the world and the fastest growing cause of cancer-related death. This is in part due to endemic viral hepatitis in developing countries and the epidemic of obesity…
The widespread use and progress in modern imaging modalities have led to an increase in the incidental finding of asymptomatic benign hepatic lesions, including cystic and solid tumors. In contrast to most cystic lesions, the latter group is composed of…
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a frequent cause of liver injury. It is the most frequent reason for withdrawal from the market of an approved drug and accounts for one-third to one-half of the cases of acute liver failure in…
The topic vascular diseases of the liver encompasses an array of disparate clinicopathologic entities, with the common thread that they specifically affect the hepatic vasculature. They can be arbitrarily classified into those that involve the hepatic artery and its branches,…
The failing liver represents a syndrome with profound morbidity and mortality. The morbidity of liver failure is secondary to the tremendous decline in metabolic and synthetic functions inherent to the liver. With the decline in metabolic activity, accumulation of toxic…