New approaches to the minimally invasive treatment of liver cancer.

Unlike laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic hepatectomy has been slow to gain acceptance because of its association with technical difficulties. Many surgeons feel there are few advantages in laparoscopic hepatectomy when compared to open surgery. The liver is the organ most susceptible to bleeding while dissecting the parenchyma and the resected liver usually requires a wide abdominal incision to deliver the resected specimen. Both the improvement of surgeons' skills and the development of technology have improved results, however, the indication of laparoscopic hepatectomy for malignancy is still controversial. This article focuses on the current status of minimally invasive treatment for liver malignancy.