Cancer surgeons in the Liver Surgery Program are specially trained and experienced in liver problems including benign and malignant liver tumors and metastases of cancer to the liver from other organs.
Our liver surgeons participate in two interdisciplinary tumor boards where the care of patients with liver tumors is discussed by doctors from many specialties. These tumor boards are part of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program and the Liver Tumor Clinic at Dartmouth Cancer Center. In addition to experts in liver surgery, experts in hepatology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, radiology, pathology, nutrition and palliative care participate in these tumor board discussions to provide their expertise and recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Many patients will have the option of participating in clinical trials that are testing new treatment options.
Conditions we treat
- Benign growths in the liver including cystadenomas, adenomas and symptomatic cysts
- Metastases that have spread to the liver from other organs, especially the colon and rectum
- Gallbladder cancer
- Tumors that arise from liver cells, like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
Treatments and procedures
Because liver tumors frequently occur in patients with complex co-morbid conditions, our surgical oncologists are a part of an integrated multidisciplinary team offering new techniques and aggressive treatment, including:
- Comprehensive diagnostic capabilities including ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET-CT, endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy.
- Surgical resection using special equipment (Habib radiofrequency ablation, CUSA ultrasonic dissection, argon beam coagulation) and methods to minimize blood loss and infection after surgery.
- Less invasive methods for destroying liver tumors, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, irreversible electroporation, portal vein embolization, chemoembolization, and radioactivity injections.
- State-of-the-art medical oncology services to treat tumors with chemotherapy prior to surgery, when appropriate.
- Comprehensive support services including nutrition and palliative care for pain and symptom management.
Clinical trials
Our surgical oncologists advance knowledge of treatment options and outcomes for liver cancer through research, publications and clinical trials.