Resection of the caudate lobe (involving segments I [dorsal sector] and/or IX [right paracaval region]) often presents a technical challenge. It is difficult to perform because of its deep location and adjacency to the major hepatic vessels (ie, the left and middle hepatic veins).

A literature review was performed based on a Medline search to identify articles on caudate lobectomy published from 1990 to 2005. This article describes the right and left-sided approaches to the liver for caudate resection according to caudate lobe tumor location and topographic classification.

The results of 377 lobectomies were analyzed in this review. The left-sided approach to the liver was used in 55 (14.58%), the right-sided approach in 24 (6.36%), and both approaches in 298 (79.04%) caudate lobectomies. Primary benign and malign liver tumors, as well as secondary liver tumors, were resected.

Access to and resection of the caudate lobe should be determined on the basis of tumor location and hepatic function. The left or right approach to the caudate lobe can be recommended for local resection of tumor located at Spiegel's portion or process portion. Approaches to caudate lobectomy are therefore largely dependent on size and location of the lesion, type of associated resection, and presence of scarring from previous resection.