Application of three-dimensional printing for intraoperative guidance during liver resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma with sophisticated location

While 3D printing is adapted usefully in certain field of surgery, its application in liver surgery was limited. Here, we introduce our experience for using 3D printing for intraoperative guidance during liver resection in a case for HCC with an intrahepatic metastasis at a sophisticated location. A 50 years old male patient was diagnosed 4.7 cm-sized hepatocellular carcinoma located on segment 3 with and an intrahepatic metastasis located on segment 8 which was between right anterior portal vein, middle hepatic vein and right hepatic vein. Since radiofrequency ablation appeared to be inappropriate, surgical resection was planned. However, the patient had a cirrhotic liver and left liver was estimated to be 47% according to volume measurement. Therefore, we planned a two-step procedure by performing left hemihepatectomy preserving the middle hepatic vein and additionally removing the intrahepatic metastasis by tumorectomy. For better guidance, we made a 3D printed model tailored for using it as a guidance during operation, and the accuracy of 3D-printed model helped the surgical team perform a safe operation. The patient underwent adjuvant proton beam therapy on the site of tumorectomy and did not experience recurrence.