Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for small malignant liver tumors: a single-center experience

Background Laparoscopic hepatectomy (Lap-Hx) has been increasingly performed for patients with liver tumors as surgical techniques and devices have progressed. However, the long-term outcomes of Lap-Hx for malignant liver tumors are not oncologically guaranteed. This study compared the short- and long-term outcomes between Lap-Hx and open hepatectomy (Open-Hx) for malignant liver tumors by matched-pair analysis.