Hepatectomy Specimen Handling

Laura Webb Lamps, MD

In order to orient the liver, it is important to identify the right lobe

lateral to the falciform ligament and the left lobe medial to the falciform ligament

Viewed from below, the quadrate lobe is between the gallbladder fossa and the ligamentum teres

, and the caudate lobe

is between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava.

TERMINOLOGY

Partial Hepatectomy

Ranges from removal of a small wedge to a lobe or more
Typically consists of lesion plus a variably sized rim of nonneoplastic liver parenchyma

Liver Explant

Result of liver transplantation
- Tumors
  - Goals of evaluation are to assess margins and stage tumor
- Medical liver disease
  - Goal of evaluation is to determine or confirm cause of liver disease &/or liver failure

MACROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Specimen Handling