KNUCH

What is Liver Cancer Center?

The Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Cancer Center is specialized in diagnosing, treating, and studying patients with biliary tract cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic biliary tract cancer, etc.). There are two departments (gastroenterology, surgery) in the center, and the entire process of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up management is centered on patients and diseases, so it is possible for each expert to collaborate and do an one-stop treatment. The abundant clinical performance of more than 100 cases of liver resection, more than 50 cases of pancreatic duodenal resection, and more than 150 cases of Radiofrequency ablation therapy is among the top in the country. Based on these performances and experiences, doctors from gastroenterology, surgery, radiology and pathology are working together for patient-centered treatment through an successful cooperative system.

Liver Cancer Center field

• 1

  Surgical treatment

  Tumors in the liver can be roughly classified into primary and metastatic tumors. Primary tumors include various benign and malignant tumors. Among the primary malignant tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are more common, and metastatic tumors that have spread from malignant tumors of various organs are often found. Surgical treatment of liver tumors is performed for primary liver tumors and metastatic lesions, and hepatic resection can be performed in parallel with treatments such as Radiofrequency ablation therapy(RFA), Transaterial Chemoinfusion(TACI), and chemotherapy, considering the location (position, number and size of the lesion), remnant liver function, and the patient's general condition.
  
  Ampullary adenoma is usually malignant, but in rare cases benign or non-tumor diseases are diagnosed. For diagnosis, we conduct Endoscopic retrograde choangiopancreatography (ERCP) or cytology and biopsy using endoscopic ultrasonography. Malignant tumors around ampullary region include pancreatic head cancer, distal cholangiocarcinoma, and Cancer of Ampulla of Vater, which require radical resection to cure. Although they are different diseases, a Pancreaticoduodenectomy is performed to resect the extrahepatic bile duct, duodenum, and pancreatic head as the locational characteristics of the lesion. Pancreatic masses can be distinguished into inflammatory and non-inflammatory masses, and non-inflammatory masses can be distinguished into benign, borderline, and malignant tumors. In the case of benign and borderline tumors, laparoscopic resection of the pancreas can be performed, and radical resection can be performed on malignant masses. Depending on the location of the lesion, a Whipple procedure is performed if it is on head or neck, and distal pancreatectomy is performed if it is located in the stomach or tail.

• 2

  Fatty liver and liver fibrosis scan

  The "fatty liver and liver fibrosis scan" introduced by the liver cancer center on July 24, 2013, uses vibrators and ultrasound to evaluate and grade hepatic steatosis, and can evaluate liver fibrosis in a highly accurate and renewable way, allowing patients to be free from discomfort or pain.
  The "fatty liver and liver fibrosis scan" is a diagnostic method that objectively and quantitatively evaluates the progression of fatty liver and liver fibrosis by quickly measuring the elasticity of liver and fatty liver. Since this "fatty liver and liver fibrosis scan" is a test using vibration and ultrasonic waves, the test time is short and can be done repeatedly. Above this, it does not affect other organs, so it is very useful for the diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver and cirrhosis, such as follow-up observation before and after treatment.

• 3

  Endoscopic ultrasonography

  The pancreas and biliary tract is located in the center of the abdominal cavity, making it difficult to perform a complete examination with an general abdominal ultrasonography. Endoscopic ultrasonography, equipped with an ultrasound detector at the tip of the endoscope, is a precise and safe test method without radiation exposure. In addition, fine needle aspiration for histological diagnosis is a safe test with few complications, and the diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic biliary tract cancer is 95%, which is an excellent. Moreover, we are trying to develop various treatment procedures using fine needle under ultrasound endoscopy guidance and also new treatment procedures for pancreatic biliary tract cancer that are limited to chemotherapy. Furthermore, we are trying to improve the quality of life of patients by performing nerve block for pain associated with pancreatic cancer.

• 4

  ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde choangiopancreatography)

  Pancreatic and biliary tract cancer patients mostly can not take surgical resection when they got diagnosed, and may require biliary drainage due to obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic biliary drainage is a relatively convenient procedure as patients don’t need to expose the biliary drainage tube to the outside of the body. For the first time in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region, we are equipped with a radiation fluoroscopy rooms in the endoscopy center, so various procedures can be performed systematically.