A 32-year-old man from Kushtia, in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh, was detected with carcinoma of the sigmoid colon in 2017. He had undergone Anterior Resection, a common surgery for rectal cancer, followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy (FOLOX Regime) in 2017. After being in regular follow up at a cancer centre in Dhaka, he came to AMRI Hospital, Mukundapur, Best Onco Hospital in Kolkata for a second opinion from Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology.

On evaluation, Dr Chakrabarti advised a serum CEA, along with a PET CT scan. A 5 X 4.5 cm bio avid lesion was located in segment VIII of the liver and a Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC), a diagnostic procedure used to investigate lumps or masses under the skin, was performed, which was suggestive of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma. The doctor advised that the patient undergo surgery with a second option of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Taking into count the risk and armed with a proper planning, Dr Chakrabarti performed Segment VIII hepatic resection, backed by the anaesthesia team, headed by Dr. Sougata Pal.

Liver segmentectomies are highly specialized and rare surgeries and are being performed only at cancer centres that are properly equipped and have surgeons with the expertise for such surgeries. Armed with CUSA & LigaSure, the ultra-radical surgery was performed. After a successful surgery, the patient was able to start the advised diet from Day Two and was discharged on Day Seven.  This is the first Liver surgery to be performed at AMRI Hospitals, Mukundapur, and the first of many more radical surgeries to be performed under the auspices of the hospital’s excellent Department of Surgical Oncology, which is on its way to become a Centre of Excellence on its own.