Recent progress in surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

Sophisticated limited resection and aggressive extended hepatectomy, as well as standard surgery for HCC, have been established for the past 20 years. Improved perioperative management of patients, precise evaluation of hepatic functional reserve, and preoperative PTPE, as well as the progress in surgical techniques, have extended surgical indications. Consequently, increased resectability and an acceptable operative death rate have been achieved, and long-term survival rates have also improved markedly. At present, the most important issue to be addressed to achieve better results is the development of a strategy against intrahepatic recurrence, including second primary HCC.