Use of the liver maximum function capacity test (LiMAx) for the management of liver resection in cirrhosis – A case of hypopharyngeal cancer liver metastasis

•A patient with a liver metastasis of pharyngeal cancer and aspect of severe cirrhosis is presented.•Conventional laboratory tests are surrogate parameters and might underestimate cirrhosis.•The LiMAx test provides a direct measurement of the liver function capacity even in cirrhosis.•Safe resection was performed after LiMAx test proved operability. The presence of liver cirrhosis goes along with a higher chance for the need of liver resection. As established laboratory parameters often underestimate the degree of cirrhosis this is associated with an increased risk for postoperative liver failure due to the preoperatively impaired liver function. Known liver function tests are unlikely to be performed in daily use because of high cost or expenditure of time. Liver maximum function capacity test (LiMAx) provides a novel tool for measurement of liver function and references for the safety of liver resection. A 63-year old patient presented at our hospital with a large, solitary liver metastasis from hypopharyngeal cancer in segments VII/VIII with infiltration of the diaphragm. Liver resection was unsuccessful in a peripheral hospital 10 months before due to considerable macroscopic liver cirrhosis (CHILD B). Upon presentation conventional laboratory parameters revealed sufficient liver function. LiMAx was performed and showed regular liver function (354μg/kg/h; at norm >315μg/kg/h). Consequently, atypical liver resection (R0) was performed resulting in a postoperative LiMAx value of 281μg/h/kg (>150μg/kg/h). The patient was discharged from hospital 37days after surgery without any signs of postoperative liver failure. The LiMAx-test enables determination of liver function at a so far unavailable level (metabolism via cytochrome P450 1A2) and hence might provide crucial additional diagnostic information to allow for safe liver resection even in cirrhotic patients.