Anterior transhepatic approach for caudate lobectomy

A solitary liver tumor was found in a 64-year-old female. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the tumor was located in the caudate lobe of the liver (6 cm diameter); almost all caudate lobe was occupied by the tumor. Anterior transhepatic approach was used for isolated complete resection of the caudate lobe through a reversed L-shaped incision, without sacrificing other part of the liver. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. The final pathological result showed a cholangiocarcinoma with a part of inferior vena cava (IVC) wall involved.