Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with obstructive jaundice caused by compression of the common hepatic duct

We treated a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma in whom jaundice was caused by obstruction of the common hepatic duct because of compression by the tumor. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage was performed preoperatively. The tumor was entirely in the medial segment of the liver, without invasion of the hepatic ducts, and medial segmentectomy was performed. As of the end of 1985, 58 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by extrahepatic obstructive jaundice have been reported in Japan. In only four was obstructive jaundice caused by extraluminal biliary compression. We review ten patients treated by liver resection.