Liver tumour removal
Treatment to remove or destroy a growth in the liver, which may be non-cancerous or cancerous, usually by surgery to cut it out or, in some cases, by heat treatment.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- It removes or destroys a growth in the liver, which may be benign or cancerous; not all growths need treating.
- Surgery (resection) cuts the growth out; ablation destroys some small tumours with heat instead.
- The exact diagnosis and whether the growth was fully removed are confirmed by examining the tissue.
- For cancer, this is one part of a wider plan involving a specialist team, scans and follow-up; it does not guarantee a cure.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Can remove or destroy a troublesome or cancerous growth
The growth is benign, harmless and better monitored than treated.
After ablation, you rest and are watched, often going home the same day or after a short stay. After surgery, you are watched closely, sometimes in a...
Care in an experienced hepatobiliary unit with high-dependency support available.
After ablation, you rest and are watched, often going home the same day or after a short stay. After surgery, you...
After surgery, eating and drinking restart gradually and drains come out as you recover; keyhole surgery often...
After surgery, energy slowly returns and the liver regrows. You build up gentle activity and avoid heavy lifting...
After surgery, most people return to normal activities with their surgeon's guidance. For cancer, follow-up scans...
What is liver tumour removal?
A liver tumour is a growth in the liver. It may be non-cancerous (benign), a cancer that started in the liver, or a cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else (for example the bowel). Many benign growths are harmless and only watched, but some growths need to be removed or destroyed.
The main way to remove a tumour is liver resection — an operation to cut out the part of the liver containing the growth, with a margin of healthy tissue around it. The liver can regrow, so a substantial part can sometimes be removed safely if enough healthy liver is left.
For some small tumours, especially when surgery is not the best option, the growth can instead be destroyed in place using heat (ablation), often guided by scans through a needle. Whether removal or destruction is best depends on the type, size, number and position of the growths, how well the rest of the liver works, and your fitness.
What the growth actually is, and whether it has been completely removed, is confirmed by examining tissue under a microscope. This is also why some growths that look benign on scans are still removed or sampled, to be sure.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Liver resection (cutting it out)
The main method for removing a tumour: the affected part of the liver is removed with a margin of healthy tissue. Can range from a small wedge to a large section, by open...
Ablation (destroying it with heat)
For some small tumours, the growth is destroyed in place using heat from a needle (radiofrequency or microwave ablation), often guided by ultrasound or CT. Useful when...
Removal of a benign growth
Some non-cancerous growths (such as a large adenoma, or a growth causing symptoms or uncertainty) are removed. Many benign growths, though, are simply monitored rather than...
Removal of secondary (spread) cancer
Cancer that has spread to the liver, often from the bowel, can sometimes be removed if the disease is limited and the liver will cope. This is planned with the wider cancer...
Preparing for your surgery
- Expect detailed scans (CT, MRI and sometimes specialised liver imaging) to map the growth and blood vessels.
- Your case is normally discussed by a specialist hepatobiliary multidisciplinary team to decide the best treatment.
- You may have a biopsy first if the diagnosis is unclear, though sometimes the growth is removed to find out what it is.
- You will have tests of your liver, kidneys, heart and lungs to check you are fit for treatment.
- Tell your team about all medicines, especially blood thinners, and any allergies.
- Stop smoking as early as possible and follow advice on alcohol, as both affect the liver and healing.
- Arrange help at home; recovery from surgery takes several weeks, less after ablation.
What happens
For surgery, you have a general anaesthetic. The surgeon either makes a cut across the upper abdomen or uses small cuts for keyhole or robotic surgery, frees the liver, controls its blood supply, and removes the part containing the growth with a margin around it. Modern techniques are used to limit bleeding. The removed tissue is sent to the laboratory.
For ablation, a needle is guided into the tumour using ultrasound or CT, sometimes through the skin and sometimes during an operation. Heat from the needle destroys the growth. This is often done under sedation or general anaesthetic and is usually quicker than surgery.
After surgery you are watched closely, often in a high-dependency area at first, with pain relief, fluids and monitoring. After ablation many people go home the same day or after a short stay. The right approach for you is decided by the specialist team.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- The growth is benign, harmless and better monitored than treated.
- Too little healthy liver would be left, or the rest of the liver is too damaged to cope with surgery.
- The tumour involves vital structures, or there is too much disease, so removal would not help.
- You are not fit enough for surgery or ablation without first being optimised.
Delay surgery if…
- There is an active infection that should be treated first.
- Important heart, lung, kidney or nutrition issues have not yet been optimised.
- The diagnosis or staging is incomplete, or the multidisciplinary team plan is not finalised.
- A procedure to grow the future remaining liver is needed before surgery is safe.
Alternatives to discuss
- Active monitoring (surveillance) for a benign or low-risk growth.
- Ablation instead of surgery, or surgery instead of ablation, depending on what suits the tumour.
- Embolisation or chemoembolisation (TACE) to block a tumour's blood supply.
- Drug treatments, targeted therapy or immunotherapy for some cancers.
- Radiotherapy techniques or, for some people, liver transplant assessment.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Can remove or destroy a troublesome or cancerous growth
- For some cancers, offers the best chance of long-term control or cure as part of a wider plan
- Confirms exactly what the growth is by examining the tissue
- Can relieve symptoms caused by a large growth
- Ablation can treat some small tumours with a smaller, quicker procedure than surgery
Risks & complications
- Pain and tiredness after the procedure, more so after surgery than ablation
- A wound or needle site, and often a temporary drain after surgery
- A slow return of appetite and energy after surgery
- A hospital stay of several days for open surgery
- Bile leaking from the liver after surgery or ablation
- Infection of the wound, chest, urine or an abscess in the liver
- Bleeding needing a transfusion or a further procedure
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Damage to nearby structures during ablation, such as the bowel or bile ducts
- The remaining liver not working well enough afterwards (liver failure)
- Serious infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)
- The tumour not being fully destroyed by ablation, needing repeat treatment
- Death, which is uncommon but a recognised risk of major liver surgery
Risk depends on whether you have surgery or ablation, how much liver is involved, whether the rest of the liver is healthy, and your fitness. Surgery carries more risk than ablation but can remove larger growths and confirm clear margins. These treatments are safest in experienced hepatobiliary centres. Ask which approach is best for you and why, and what your personal risk is.
Published figures to discuss
Risk depends on whether the growth is removed by surgery or destroyed by ablation, how much liver is involved, whether the rest of the liver is healthy, and the patient's fitness. Ablation generally carries less risk than major surgery but may not fully treat larger tumours. Figures are best treated as ranges and are generally better in experienced centres.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death around the time of liver surgery | Often quoted around 2% on average for resection, lower for minor surgery and higher for major resection or diseased livers | Ablation generally carries a lower risk than open surgery; the figure depends on the procedure and your health. | Surgical treatment for liver cancer — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Bile leak after surgery | Reported in a wide range, from low single figures up to around 20% in some series | Varies with the type and size of resection; many leaks settle with a drain. | Surgical treatment for liver cancer — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Incomplete destruction after ablation, needing repeat treatment | More likely with larger tumours; varies between series | Follow-up scans are used to check the growth has been fully destroyed. | Surgical treatment for liver cancer — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
Recovery depends on the treatment. Ablation often means a day case or short stay with a quick recovery. Surgery is major, with a longer hospital stay and a recovery measured in weeks, while the liver regrows.
- Tiredness for several weeks after surgery, or a few days after ablation
- A reduced appetite that slowly improves after surgery
- Some discomfort around the wound or needle site
- A mild flu-like feeling for a short time after ablation in some people
- Needing to pace yourself and rest more than usual at first
Aftercare
- Take pain relief as prescribed so you can move, breathe deeply and recover well.
- After surgery, walk a little and often to lower the risk of blood clots and chest infection.
- Look after your wound or needle site as advised and watch for signs of infection or bile leak.
- Eat little and often as your appetite returns, following any dietary advice.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity after surgery until your surgeon says it is safe.
- Restart blood thinners and other medicines only as directed.
- Keep all follow-up appointments, including scans and any cancer treatment.
- Know the warning signs and exactly who to contact if you become unwell.
- Help at home arranged, more for surgery than ablation
- Comfortable clothing that does not press on the wound
- A clear list of medicines and pain relief
- Written wound or needle-site care and warning-sign instructions
- Follow-up appointment and scan dates noted
- Clinic and out-of-hours contact numbers saved
- Transport arranged, as you may not be able to drive at first
Scars and how they heal
Open surgery usually leaves a scar across the upper abdomen, which fades over months but does not disappear. Keyhole or robotic surgery leaves several smaller scars. Ablation through the skin usually leaves only a small mark where the needle went in. Your team can show you what to expect for your treatment.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- A high temperature, shivering or feeling cold and shaky (signs of infection)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, with dark urine and pale stools
- Severe or worsening tummy pain or swelling
- Increasing redness, swelling or discharge from the wound or needle site
- Green or yellow fluid leaking from the wound or drain
- A swollen, painful calf, or breathlessness or chest pain (possible clot)
- Confusion, severe drowsiness or being unable to keep fluids down
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A successful procedure removes or destroys the growth. After surgery, examining the tissue confirms exactly what it was and whether it was removed completely, including whether the edges (margins) were clear. After ablation, follow-up scans check that the growth has been destroyed.
For cancer, treatment is one part of the picture. Even complete removal does not guarantee the cancer will not return, which is why staging, clear margins, any additional treatment and ongoing follow-up all matter. For benign growths, removal usually resolves the problem. Your team will explain what your particular results mean.
For benign growths, removal usually solves the problem for good. For cancer, the outlook depends on the type and stage, whether margins were clear (after surgery) or the tumour was fully destroyed (after ablation), and the health of the rest of the liver. There is always a chance of cancer returning, so follow-up continues for a planned period. Ablation can sometimes need repeating if a small area was not fully treated.
Combining with other procedures
Treatments are often combined, especially for cancer. Surgery or ablation may be done alongside chemotherapy, and surgery and ablation can be combined to clear several growths while sparing healthy liver. For spread from the bowel, liver treatment is planned with the wider cancer team and may be timed around bowel surgery or drug treatment.
Follow-up & long-term care
You will be followed up to check your recovery and, for cancer, to watch for any return of disease with regular scans and blood tests over a planned period. After ablation, scans confirm the growth was destroyed. You should know who is co-ordinating your care and how to get help quickly if you become unwell.
- Regular follow-up scans and blood tests after cancer treatment to watch for recurrence.
- Repeat ablation occasionally needed if a small area was not fully destroyed.
- Monitoring of liver function, especially if the rest of the liver is affected by disease.
- Any additional treatment, such as chemotherapy, as planned by the team.
- Prompt review if jaundice, fever or new symptoms develop.
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- For cancer, the disease can return in the liver or elsewhere, sometimes needing further treatment.
- Ablation occasionally needs repeating if a small area was not fully destroyed.
- A bile leak or collection after surgery may need a drain or a further procedure.
- Ongoing scans and blood tests are part of long-term care after cancer treatment.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- Care in an experienced hepatobiliary unit with high-dependency support available.
- A named contact and out-of-hours route for fever, jaundice, bleeding or worsening pain.
- A clear, written follow-up plan with scans and blood tests, especially after cancer treatment.
- Joined-up care with oncology, your GP and other specialists as needed.
- Honest discussion of recovery, the chance of recurrence and realistic long-term results.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether treatment is surgery (and how extensive) or ablation
- Whether keyhole, robotic or open surgery is used
- The surgeon's, radiologist's and specialist team's fees
- Theatre or procedure time and the facility (hospital) fee
- Sedation or general anaesthetic and the anaesthetist's involvement
- Length of hospital stay, including any high-dependency care
- Imaging, pathology and any additional treatment such as chemotherapy
- The operator's (surgeon's or radiologist's) fee and the facility (hospital) fee
- Sedation or anaesthetic costs
- An estimate of the hospital stay, including higher-dependency care if needed
- Imaging, pathology (tissue analysis) and results reporting
- Follow-up appointments and scans, and any additional cancer treatment
- What happens, and what it costs, if the tumour is not fully treated or a complication occurs
- The cancellation policy
On the NHS? Liver tumour removal is carried out on the NHS in specialist hepatobiliary centres when clinically indicated; private care may be used for choice of specialist, speed or a second opinion, but treatment should always be planned by an experienced team.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Treating a harmless benign growth that could safely be monitored instead.
- Not being told that treatment for cancer does not guarantee a cure.
- No clear discussion of surgery versus ablation and the trade-offs.
- Underplaying the risks of major liver surgery.
- No mention of alternatives or why specialist-centre experience matters.
Marketing red flags
- Promising a cure from removing a cancerous growth.
- Pushing treatment of a benign growth that does not need it.
- Describing major liver surgery as routine or low-risk.
- Recommending treatment without the multidisciplinary team, full staging and imaging.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- Is my growth benign or cancerous, and how will you confirm this?
- Is surgery or ablation better for me, and why?
- How much of my liver would be removed, and will enough healthy liver be left?
- If this is cancer, what are the chances it returns, and will I need other treatment?
- What is my personal risk of bleeding, bile leak or infection?
- What does my follow-up involve, and how will you check the treatment has worked?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Does every liver growth need removing?
What is the difference between surgery and ablation?
Is the growth cancer?
If it is cancer, will treatment cure it?
How long is the recovery?
What if the growth cannot be removed or destroyed?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: Cancer Research UK — Surgery for liver cancer Cancer Research UK — Treatment options for liver cancer NHS — Liver cancer (treatment) Cancer Research UK — Secondary liver cancer Surgical treatment for liver cancer — PMC AUGIS — Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of GB and Ireland
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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