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- Hepatocellular adenomas are essentially benign tumours of the liver that occur mostly in women of reproductive age. - The four different subtypes described, which can be distinguished both radiologically and histopathologically, are: steatotic, inflammatory, β-catenin mutated and unclassified adenomas. These subtypes differ in the risk of complications.- Contrast-enhanced liver MRI is the best method for diagnostics and characterization of hepatocellular adenomas. - Possible complications include bleeding, rupture, and malignant degeneration of the hepatocellular adenoma. These complications are rare in adenomas < 5 cm. - Men with hepatocellular adenomas are at higher risk for malignant degeneration. - In women, lifestyle changes (cessation of oral contraceptive and weight reduction) can cause regression of the adenoma, which can prevent the necessity for liver surgery. - In pregnant women there is a risk of growth of hepatocellular adenoma. It is, therefore, it is recommended to check the tumour in pregnant women every 6-12 weeks using ultrasound.

Imaging using ultrasonography, spiral CT, MRI and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), plays a major role at two situations during the management of patients with colorectal liver metastases: (a) at the time of the diagnosis and treatment of the primary colorectal tumour, and (b) during the follow-up for the detection of liver metastases and assessing the resectability of these metastases. At the time of the diagnosis and the treatment of the primary tumour, imaging comprising spiral CT or MRI to detect and characterize liver lesions is considered to be the modality of choice. Due to their low prevalence, imaging for the evaluation of lung metastases may be limited to conventional chest radiography. For evaluation of the extrahepatic abnormalities, abdominal and chest CT may be performed in combination with CT of the liver; alternatively a FDG-PET may be performed. During the follow-up of patients treated for colorectal carcinoma, ultrasonography is the most important imaging modality. However, if the liver cannot be adequately imaged by ultrasonography, if there is a raised level ofcarcinoembryonic antigen or irresectability cannot be determined, additional CT or MRI examination will result in more information.

Objective: To establish the current expert opinions on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular adenoma in the Netherlands., Design: Questionnaire., Method: In 2005, a questionnaire concerning the incidence, diagnosis, treatment, management in case of pregnancy, and follow-up of hepatocellular adenoma was sent to 20 Dutch hospitals with a tertiary referral role. In addition, they were asked to describe the indicated treatment in 5 imaginary cases., Results: 17 hospitals (85%) responded. A median of 52 patients per hospital presented with a solid liver tumour annually. Between 1 and 40% of these patients had benign lesions with a differential diagnosis of adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and haemangioma. In 15 clinics (88%), hepatic adenomas were diagnosed with contrast-enhanced, multiphasic, spiral CT or MRI series. 2 clinics (12%) required a histological diagnosis. Conservative management (withdrawal of oral contraceptives and radiological control) was initially given in all clinics. MRI, CT or ultrasound were used to follow adenoma patients with different time schedules. The criteria for surgical resection were a tumour size > 5 cm and abdominal complaints. In 5 clinics (29%), the patients were no longer followed after surgery. In cases in which multiple factors played a role (size, location, number of lesions, and wish to become pregnant), the treatment policy was highly variable. Pregnancy was not discouraged in 15 clinics, but in 11 (65%) only under strict conditions: frequent control, a peripheral location that makes surgery possible if necessary, a stable tumour size, and an understanding of the risks., Conclusion: The management of hepatocellular adenomas in the Netherlands is rather uniform, except for differences in the methods of observation and the treatment policy in cases in which multiple factors play a role.

Objective: Determining possible differences in living donor nephrectomy procedures: laparoscopy against mini-incision concerning discomfort to the donor and the maintenance of good graft function., Design: Blind randomized study., Method: In two university medical centres, one hundred living kidney donors were randomly assigned to either total laparoscopic donor nephrectomy or mini-incision muscle-splitting open donor nephrectomy. Primary outcome was physical fatigue measured with the 'Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory' (MFI-20) during one-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes were physical function measured with the 'Short form-36' questionnaire, postoperative hospital stay, amount of pain, operating times and graft and patient survival., Results: Donors who underwent laparoscopy experienced less fatigue (difference: -1.3; 95% CI: -2.4 - (-0.1)) and physical function was better (difference: 6.2; 95% CI: 2.0-10.3) during one-year follow-up. Those donors who underwent laparoscopy required less morphine (16 mg versus 25 mg; p = 0.005) and the duration of hospital stay was shorter (3 versus 4 days; p = 0.003). The laparoscopic procedure resulted in a longer operation time (221 versus 164 min; p < 0.001) a longer first warm ischaemia time (6 versus 3 min; p < 0.001) and less blood loss (100 versus 240 ml; p < 0.001). Recipient renal function and one-year graft survival rates did not differ. The number of preoperative and postoperative complications did not differ significantly between both surgery techniques. Conversions did not occur., Conclusion: Donor nephrectomy through laparoscopy led to less fatigue and a better quality of life compared with the open procedure. The safety factors for donors and recipients were comparable for both techniques. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is therefore the better surgical choice for kidney donor programmes with living donors.

A 41-year-old patient presented with fever, night sweats, general malaise, abdominal pain, and substantial weight loss. Laboratory analysis suggested an inflammatory process. Diagnostic imaging revealed a hepatic haemangioma with a diameter of 20 cm. Because such giant haemangiomas of the liver can lead to inflammatory syndrome, the tumour was surgically removed. Pathological analysis confirmed the clinical diagnosis and evidence of extensive thrombosis and other vascular defects was found. Following treatment, the symptoms resolved without further complications. In patients with a giant haemangioma in the liver who present with an inflammatory syndrome, the haemangioma should be considered as the causal factor. For these patients, resection is the treatment of choice.

In the Netherlands, cross-over kidney transplantation has been introduced as an extra option in the living kidney donation programme. In cross-over transplantation, patients who cannot be given their own partner's kidney for immunological reasons are given a kidney from the partner of another patient in exchange for a kidney from their own partner. There is no difference in the medical indications and contraindications between direct and indirect living donation. There are no ethical obstacles since the net gain for the two couples is no different from that of direct living kidney donation and because the exchange takes place on the basis of equality. One should be aware that the extra possibilities may result in more psychological pressure on potential donors. It is important that the donation procedures start at the same moment and that the wishes of patients and donors for anonymity be preserved. A successful cross-over kidney transplantation programme requires a large pool of donors and patients. Therefore, this has been organised in a national programme. The Dutch Transplantation Foundation is responsible for the allocation of cross-over kidneys. Organ trade will thus be impossible. The seven Dutch centres for kidney transplantation have developed a protocol.

In the period 1996-2001, the number of transplanted postmortal kidneys decreased from 425 to 380, while at the same time the number of kidneys transplanted from living donors increased from 81 in 1996 to 155 per year in 2001. There was a striking increase in the proportion of living non-related donors (59/155). Although the short-term results of kidney transplantation have improved, and kidneys are very rarely lost as a consequence of acute rejection, the average life of a transplanted kidney has scarcely improved. Chronic allograft dysfunction is now the major cause of transplant loss. This process is hardly influenced by the immunosuppressive drugs currently used. To improve the cardiovascular risk profile, several centres discontinue the use of cyclosporin, tacrolimus or prednisone at 6 or 12 months after transplantation or substitute these with other drugs. This is complicated by acute rejection episodes in 10-20% of patients. With the arrival of a number of new immunosuppressive drugs the risk of rejection might be reduced.

Objective: To evaluate the results of partial liver resection in patients with liver metastases., Design: Retrospective., Method: All of the patients who underwent a partial liver resection at the Rotterdam University Hospital during the period June 1984-August 1999 due to one or more metastases of a colorectal carcinoma were traced in the computerised hospital archive. Data concerning the primary tumour, the diagnostics carried out, the liver resection carried out and the clinical outcome after the operation were analysed using the statistical software SPSS. The actuarial survival was determined according to the Kaplan-Meier method., Results: In total 163 patients underwent an operation: 108 men and 55 women, with a mean age of 58 years (range: 32-77). Postoperative morbidity occurred in 34 patients (21%), mostly infections and gall leakage. During the hospital admission 10 patients died (6%). In the follow-up period, mean 30.2 months (median: 23.8) there was a recurrence of colorectal carcinoma in 82 of the patients (50%). The actuarial 5-year survival chance was 37%. The only statistically significant unfavourable prognosis factor for survival, was a larger tumour volume in the liver at the time of the hepatectomy.

Objective: To evaluate, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or colorectal carcinoma disseminated to the liver, treatment with interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) during temporary occlusion of vascular inflow in the liver: feasibility, complications and initial tumour response., Design: Prospective, descriptive., Methods: Patients were included if their tumours were surgically irresectable and smaller than 4 cm in diameter and did not exceed a number of 3. ILC was performed under general anaesthesia, basically via a percutaneous approach. Vascular inflow was occluded during laser treatment. Twenty-four hours after ILC a triphasic spiral CT was performed to assess the result of the treatment., Results: In 10 patients 14 hepatic tumours were lasered in 12 treatment sessions (10 percutaneous and 2 at laparotomy). After 5 treatment sessions, complications were observed of which pain at the insertion site of the catheters was the most frequent. For 6 out of the 10 patients with percutaneous procedures, discharge was within 24 hours after ILC. Nine out of the 14 tumours (65%) were completely coagulated., Conclusion: ILC with vascular inflow occlusion is a safe and feasible technique that can be performed during a short hospital stay. Initial tumour response is 65% and these results justify determination of duration of response in a larger group of patients.

Currently xenotransplantation is being discussed on national and international levels as a possible solution to tranplantation waiting lists, in view of the lack of alternative therapies. In recent years, enormous progress has been made in the area of immunology, especially concerning hyperacute rejection. However, long-term survival is still fiction due to relatively unknown, sequential rejection processes. Moreover, it remains questionable if xenogeneic organs will function physiologically, especially if they are metabolically complex. A third problem is the possible infectious risk of xenotransplantation to the patient and the population. Regarding this hazard, various committees and policy reports demand clarity first before the initial clinical transplantations become fact. In the Netherlands, the government largely adopted an identical advice by the Health Council. Artificial organs and cloning developments indicate that xenotransplantation might merely be an intermediate station in the route to develop adequate treatment for patients with organ failure.

Objective: Evaluation of safety and technical feasibility of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy., Design: Descriptive., Method: The per- and postoperative results were analysed of 15 patients subjected to laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy in the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, Dept. of General Surgery, the Netherlands. Both left and right nephrectomy were performed via the transperitoneal route. The kidney was removed via a subumbilical incision., Results: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was attempted in 15 patients and completed successfully in 14. Conversion to flank incision was resorted to one patient because of a venous bleeding. Median operating time was 290 min (SD: 57). Mean warm ischaemia time was 7 min (range: 4-17), including laparoscopic harvest. All kidneys were functioning well after transplantation. The mean duration of postoperative hospitalization of the donors was 4 days., Conclusion: Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy is a safe and technically feasible procedure in a kidney transplant programme involving a living relative.

Objective: Analysis of the diagnostic approach and management of 20 patients with hepatocellular adenoma, 1979-1996., Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, the Netherlands., Design: Retrospective and follow-up analysis., Method: Medical records of patients with histologically proven hepatocellular adenoma were analysed with respect to complaints, diagnostic approach and therapeutical management. Follow-up took place at the outpatient department where history-taking, physical examination, ultrasonography and hepatitis B and C serology tests were performed., Results: In the period 1979-1996, 20 patients with hepatocellular adenoma were treated. Eight patients (mean tumour size 3.2 cm (1.5-5)) were treated conservatively, 12 (mean tumour size 8.1 cm (6-10)) underwent hepatic resection; four because of rupture of the tumour. Serum liver enzyme values did not contribute to the diagnosis. Of the lesions 78% were diagnosed correctly by ultrasonography and 71% by computer tomography. Median follow-up of the patients treated operatively was 73 months (1-204). One patient died three years after an incomplete resection of a hepatocellular adenoma, because of a hepatocellular carcinoma. Ultrasonography did not demonstrate any recurrent tumours in the other patients. In the group of patients conservatively treated (median follow-up 39 months (24-72)) two patients died because of a hepatocellular carcinoma. Ultrasonography demonstrated stable tumour diameters in three patients and regression in three others., Conclusion: Based on the literature and the presented experience surgical treatment is the treatment of choice in patients with large (> or = 5 cm diameter) hepatocellular adenomas because of the risk of malignant transformation and rupture of the tumour. With smaller tumours (< 5 cm) a conservative treatment may suffice in hepatitis virus negative patients, including withdrawal of oral contraceptives followed by thorough ultrasound follow-up of tumour size. In case of tumour growth or complaints a resection of the tumour is indicated.

Objective: Analysis of the diagnostic approach, therapy and management of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver., Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam., Design: Retrospective follow-up analysis., Method: Medical records of patients with histologically proven FNH were analysed with respect to complaints, diagnostic approach and therapeutic management. Follow-up took place at the outpatient clinic where history-taking, physical examination, ultrasonography and hepatitis B and C serology tests were performed., Results: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven focal nodular hyperplasia were treated: 19 were treated conservatively, 12 underwent hepatic resection; one of these patients died postoperatively. Follow-up investigation was carried out in 16 and 9 patients, respectively. Laboratory results did not contribute to the diagnosis. Computed tomography was the most reliable imaging method; 71% of the lesions were correctly diagnosed. After a median follow-up of 52 months none of the patients treated conservatively showed tumour growth on ultrasonography., Conclusions: The most efficient approach to confirm the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia consists of an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy and histological examination of the specimen. Conservative management is the treatment of choice in focal nodular hyperplasia. Hepatic resection should only be performed in symptomatic patients, in case of tumour growth or of uncertain histological diagnosis, to exclude a malignant process.

Objective: Evaluation of the results of emergency liver transplantation in patients with acute liver failure., Design: Analysis of 25 patients with acute liver failure., Setting: University Hospital Rotterdam Dijkzigt., Method: Twenty-five patients with acute liver failure were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in January 1989-May 1993. Patients were selected for emergency liver transplantation according to the Clichy criteria (presence of confusion or coma and factor V activity less than 20-30%)., Results: Liver transplantation was indicated in 17 patients and performed in 13. The 1-year survival rate in patients with a liver transplant was 85%. Four patients with an indication for liver transplantation, but who could not be transplanted died. All 8 patients without an indication for emergency liver transplantation survived., Conclusion: Survival after liver transplantation for acute hepatic failure is now about 80%; the Clichy criteria appear to be helpful in selecting patients with acute hepatic failure for liver transplantation.

Between 1980 and 1987 a total of 163 patients were operated for unilateral recurrent inguinal hernia in the University Hospital Dijkzigt. Various factors were analysed statistically with the log rank test for their prognostic value to predict repeat recurrence. Lower repeat recurrence rates were found with increase of age (p = 0.05) and time passed since the previous hernia operation (p = 0.001). Using the actuarial method of analysis the total cumulative repeat recurrence rate after five years was 23%.