RESECTION OF HEPATIC METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

It is well known that hepatic metastasis is a very important prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. The survival of patients with colorectal cancer is increasing, partly because of the aggressive treatment of hepatic metastasis or prevention against recurrence in the remnant liver following recent development of new techniques for liver surgery and postoperative management. We reviewed patients undergoing resection of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer and investigated the indication for this type of surgery. Among 325 patients with colorectal cancer experienced in a past 16-year period, 54 (16.6%) developed hepatic metastasis. Seventeen of the 54 patients with hepatic metastasis (synchronous in 11 cases and metachronous in 6 cases) underwent surgery of their liver tumors. The 50% survival time of the liver resection group was 3.75 years versus 0.75 years in the nonresection group. There was no significant difference in survival rate between the liver resection and nonresection groups in patients with synchronous hepatic metastasis, but a marked difference of survival was found in patients with metachronous metastasis. We experienced 5 patients (29.4%) who have a long recurrence-free period after hepatic resection, in that the clinical significance of liver resection should be emphasized for better prognosis of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis.