结直肠癌肝转移根治性切除预后因素分析

目的 分析影响结直肠癌肝转移患者根治性手术切除预后的临床病理因素,探讨改善患者预后的方法.方法 收集2005年1月至201 1年12月江苏省苏北人民医院和复旦大学附属肿瘤医院收治的103例结直肠癌肝转移根治性切除患者的临床资料.采用Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率,用Log-rank法分析患者生存情况,对各种影响预后的因素分别进行单变量和多变量Cox回归分析.结果 103例患者均获随访,随访时间10～ 60个月,术后1、3、5年生存率分别为90％、49％、39％.单因素分析结果显示:肝转移灶数目、大小、分布、术前CEA水平、手术并发症、术后化疗是肝转移灶切除术后的影响因素(x2值分别为24.732、9.461、9.568、25.948、25.370、5.701,P＜0.05);多因素分析显示,肝转移灶数目、肝转移灶切除术前CEA水平、手术并发症是影响预后的独立因素(Wald=7.974、12.051、11.547,P＜0.05).结论 肝转移灶数目、肝转移灶切除术前CEA水平和手术并发症是影响结直肠癌肝转移患者预后的独立因素.适当扩大手术切除的适应证,加强对高危患者的随访和术后辅助化疗,可能改善肝转移患者的预后.     

结直肠癌肝转移预后影响因素的分析

目的 探讨结直肠癌肝转移患者预后的相关影响因素.方法 回顾性分析5年间收治的71例结直肠癌肝转移患者的临床病理资料.选择患者性别、年龄、肝转移部位、肝转移时间、转移灶数目、转移灶大小、原发肿瘤分化程度、有无淋巴转移、有无肝外转移以及肝转移病灶治疗方法等10个因素,用SPSS 17.0软件进行结直肠癌肝转移单因素分析和多因素Cox回归分析,并对有意义的相关因素进行交互作用分析.结果 71例结直肠癌肝转移患者生存时间为(16.5±5.3)个月,3年生存率为12.7％.单因素分析显示肝转移部位、转移灶数目、转移灶大小、肿瘤分化程度、有无淋巴转移、有无肝外转移以及肝转移病灶治疗方法等7个因素与预后有关,它们的组间差异均具有统计学意义(x2 =11.279,9.600,8.076,17.376,19.817,24.310,32.267;P＜0.05).Cox回归模型表明原发肿瘤分化程度(RR=1.671,95％CI 1.236 ～2.345,P=0.026),淋巴转移(RR=1.658,95％ CI1.214 ～2.286,P=0.010),有无肝外转移(RR =2.586,95％ CI 1.758 ～6.326,P=0.000)以及肝转移病灶治疗方法(RR=6.846,95％CI3.624～13.032,P=0.000)与结直肠癌肝转移预后有密切关系.结论 肿瘤分化程度、有无淋巴转移、有无肝外转移以及肝转移病灶治疗方法是结直肠癌肝转移预后的独立危险因素.     

影响结直肠癌肝转移手术切除患者预后的多因素分析

目的 探讨影响结直肠癌肝转移患者手术切除的预后因素。方法 收集1995-2001年间收治的结直肠癌肝转移手术切除患者103例的资料，用Kaplan-Meier法计算术后生存率，以Cox模型进行多变量分析。结果 患者术后1、3年无瘤生存率分别为73．8％和43．7％，术后1、3年累积生存率分别为7g．6％和49．5％。单因素分析显示：术前血清CEA水平、转移灶与原发灶的治疗间隔时间、术中切缘情况、肝门淋巴结转移、肝内卫星灶的存在与否、肝转移灶的最大直径、数目及有无包膜影响患者的术后肝内复发和术后累积生存率，而术后化疗可以提高患者的累积生存率。多因素分析显示：转移灶与原发灶的治疗间隔时间、切缘情况、肝内卫星灶的存在与否和肝转移灶的最大直径是影响肝内复发和累积生存率的独立因素，而肝门淋巴结转移是影响累积生存率的独立因素，有无包膜是影响肝内复发的独立因素。结论 手术切除是结直肠癌肝转移有效的治疗手段。转移灶与原发灶的治疗间隔时间、切缘情况、肝内卫星灶、肝转移灶的大小和包膜、肝门淋巴结转移等是患者预后的独立影响因素。     

结直肠癌肝转移的外科治疗进展

一、手术适应证及手术时机的选择结直肠癌单纯转移至肝脏者占结直肠癌患者的 2 5 %,局限于肝一叶者又占肝转移的 2 5 %,因此结直肠癌出现肝转移且为单个结节或局限于一个肝叶的不超过 5 %,这部分患者行根治性肝切除率极高 ,可达 95 %左右[1] 。目前手术指征包括 :(1)肝转移病灶为孤立结节或病变范围较局限 ;(2 )无肝外转移或邻近脏器 (膈肌、门静脉 )转移 ;(3)结直肠癌切除后肝转移 ,原发癌灶局部复发可切除者 ;(4 )肝转移癌灶手术切除后复发者 ,病灶较局限 ,且无肝外转移也可考虑再次手术切除 ;(5 )出现肺部转移可行手术治疗者。Ｖｏｇｔ等…     

FOLFOX-6与肝动脉灌注化疗对结直肠癌肝转移治疗效果的比较

目的 比较FOLFOX-6方案全身化疗与传统以氟尿嘧啶为主的肝动脉灌注化疗对结直肠癌术后肝转移病人的疗效并分析影响结直肠癌术后肝转移病人的预后因素.方法 46名结直肠癌术后肝转移病人随机分配到全身化疗组(实验组)和介入治疗组(对照组),对比观察近远期疗效、毒副作用和生活质量.将影响预后的临床特征和治疗方式进行单因素和多因素分析.结果 实验组、对照组总生存率差异有统计学意义(P=0.048),中位生存时间分别为15.0个月和11.2个月(P＜0.05);治疗总有效率两组差异有统计学意义(50%和10%;P=0.011);两组治疗期间的PS评分差异无统计学意义(P=0.126).毒副作用除骨髓抑制、腹痛外,其它比较差异均无统计学意义.单因素分析显示,原发病灶是否浸润浆膜、肝转移灶分布、肝转移病灶最大直径、肝转移灶数目、原发癌有无淋巴结转移以及治疗方式与预后相关.多因素分析后发现,肝转移灶最大直径、肝转移病灶数目、原发癌灶是否浸透浆膜层和治疗模式为影响预后的独立因素.结论 以草酸铂为主的FOLFOX-6方案比传统的以氟尿嘧啶为主的肝动脉灌注化疗有更好的治疗缓解率和远期疗效;肝转移灶最大直径＞5 cm、肝转移灶多发和原发病灶浸透浆膜层提示病人预后不良,采取以草酸铂为主的全身化疗,预后更好.传统药物介人治疗需要改进,局部介入与全身治疗结合的方式值得进一步探究.     

肝切除治疗结直肠癌肝转移预后影响因素研究进展

结直肠癌是我国最常见的恶性肿瘤之一。临床上，结直肠癌病人首次确诊时已有15%～25%发生肝脏转移，中位生存期约为6个月，然而行手术切除肝转移灶后5年存活率可达60%。近年来，虽然在新辅助化疗和外科技术等方面取得迅速发展，使得病人获得较长的生存时间，但肝切除仍是治愈结直肠癌肝转移（CRLM）病人的主要治疗方式。肝切除术能够改善病人预后，手术应做到R0切除或者达到无疾病证据状态（NED）；若有复发应积极施行二次手术；原发病灶部位以及淋巴结转移情况对预后影响尚有待研究；结直肠癌确诊至发生肝转移时间间隔越长预后较好（＞2年）。然而，肝转移灶的大小、数目、部位情况等，并不是影响手术预后的主要因素。总之，肝切除对CRLM病人具有良好的预后，同时需要结合病人的切缘状态、残余肝体积、原发病灶及淋巴结转移等因素综合考虑。     

结直肠癌肝转移的手术治疗

目的 探讨手术治疗结直肠癌肝转移的疗效以及影响因素.方法 收集74例手术治疗的结直肠癌肝转移病例,进行回顾性分析.结果 本组患者3年和5年生存率分别为63.8%和49.8%.原发灶淋巴结转移者5年生存率(33.3%)显著低于无转移者(63.7%,P=0.002),脉管侵犯者(39.6%)显著低于无侵犯者(61.6%,P=0.025).转移灶个数≤3个者(53.7%)显著高于＞3个者(34.6%,P=0.021).肝转移灶局限于半肝者,其5年生存率(65.2%)显著高于双侧弥漫者(23.9%,P=0.001).结论 手术切除是唯一可能治愈结直肠癌肝转移的方法.原发灶无淋巴结转移、无脉管侵犯,转移灶个数不超过3个、局限于半肝者预后较好.     

结直肠癌肝转移危险及预后因素分析

肝脏是结直肠癌最常见的远处转移器官,结直肠癌病人出现肝转移一般预后较差。结直肠癌肝转移分为同时性肝转移和异时性肝转移,对众多的临床以及病理学特征进行的单因素和多因素回归分析提示,影响结直肠癌发生肝转移的危险因素有：浸润深度、淋巴结转移、癌结节、分化程度、癌胚抗原和糖类抗原等。影响结直肠癌肝转移病人预后的因素有：肝转移灶大小及数目、肝外器官转移、原发灶手术切除、肝转移灶手术切除、全身药物治疗等。因此,手术切除肝转移灶、药物治疗获得手术切除机会等治疗模式能够最大程度地提高结直肠癌肝转移病人的存活率。由众多因素组合起来的评分系统,能够较好地预测结直肠癌肝转移病人的预后。     

肝切除治疗结直肠癌肝转移预后影响因素研究进展

结直肠癌是我国最常见的恶性肿瘤之一。临床上,结直肠癌病人首次确诊时已有15%～25%发生肝脏转移,中位生存期约为6个月,然而行手术切除肝转移灶后5年存活率可达60%。近年来,虽然在新辅助化疗和外科技术等方面取得迅速发展,使得病人获得较长的生存时间,但肝切除仍是治愈结直肠癌肝转移（CRLM）病人的主要治疗方式。肝切除术能够改善病人预后,手术应做到R0切除或者达到无疾病证据状态（NED）;若有复发应积极施行二次手术;原发病灶部位以及淋巴结转移情况对预后影响尚有待研究;结直肠癌确诊至发生肝转移时间间隔越长预后较好（＞2年）。然而,肝转移灶的大小、数目、部位情况等,并不是影响手术预后的主要因素。总之,肝切除对CRLM病人具有良好的预后,同时需要结合病人的切缘状态、残余肝体积、原发病灶及淋巴结转移等因素综合考虑。     

结直肠癌肝转移一期联合手术化疗的临床研究

目的探讨结直肠癌肝转移一期联合手术辅助化疗的有效途径及临床价值.方法回顾性分析一期联合手术切除原发癌及转移癌,经肝动脉门静脉双置泵栓塞灌注化疗,肿瘤局部注射无水酒精及热电疗法综合性治疗结直肠癌肝转移36例的临床资料.结果本组36例结直肠癌患者原发癌均获切除,其中一期切除肝转移癌17例,6例复发,4例再次手术切除.19例不能切除的转移性肝癌,行肝动脉门静脉双置泵栓塞灌注化疗,无水酒精注射和热电疗法.肿瘤直径平均缩小57%,其中4例因肿瘤缩小行二期手术切除.1、2、3年生存率分别为切除组94%,82%,65%;明显高于置泵组的74%,53%,32%(P<0.01).结论结直肠癌肝转移一期联合手术切除加肝动脉门静脉双置泵栓塞灌注化疗,是一种首选而有效的治疗方法.不能切除肝转移癌者,只要切除原发肿瘤,肝动脉门静脉置泵栓塞灌注化疗,可明显延长病人生存期,改善预后.     

Treatment of recurrent colorectal liver metastases by interstitial laser photocoagulation

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection improves survival in selected patients with colorectal liver metastases. The treatment of recurrent hepatic metastases after resection is controversial. Interstitial laser photocoagulation, performed under local anaesthesia, offers a minimally invasive option to repeat resection. The first series of patients with recurrent colorectal liver metastases treated with photo- coagulation is reported. METHODS: Nineteen patients (five women and 14 men, median age 57 (range 44-71) years) who developed recurrent colorectal liver metastases after hepatectomy (five with bilateral disease) were treated with photocoagulation between 1993 and 1997. Fifteen patients also received chemotherapy (14 systemic, one hepatic arterial) before photocoagulation. RESULTS: There were no major complications or deaths related to the treatment. Six patients developed minor complications related to the procedure but did not require any form of intervention. Median survival from commencement of photocoagulation was 16 (range 4-36) months. CONCLUSION: Photocoagulation is a safe, minimally invasive therapy that may be used as an adjunct to chemotherapy and repeat resection in the treatment of recurrent colorectal liver metastases, and may lead to improved survival.     

Neo-adjuvant therapy improves resectability rates for colorectal liver metastases

PURPOSE: Liver resection improves survival in selected patients with colorectal liver metastases. However, the majority of patients with colorectal liver metastases have inoperable disease at presentation. Neo-adjuvant therapy (systemic or regional chemotherapy and interstitial laser therapy) used singly or in combination may convert a selected group of patients with irresectable liver metastases into an operable state. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a series of patients with initially inoperable multiple colorectal liver metastases who became operable after neo-adjuvant therapy. Operability was defined as unilateral disease limited to the liver. Twelve patients (7 female, 5 male, median age 57 years, range 38-69 years) with multiple inoperable colorectal liver metastases (8 synchronous, 4 metachronous) were initially treated with systemic chemotherapy (n = 7), hepatic arterial chemotherapy (n = 2) and chemotherapy plus interstitial laser therapy (n = 3). RESULTS: In all cases, a significant response was achieved which enabled subsequent liver resection to be undertaken. There was only one postoperative complication (8%) and no peri-operative deaths. 3 patients were operated on within the last 12 months and are still alive. Of the remainder, 1 died within 1 year with recurrent disease. The remaining patients have a median survival of 2.5 years, range 1.39-4 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results are similar to those reported for patients undergoing resection for operable metastases without neo-adjuvant therapy. Aggressive multimodality treatment of colorectal liver metastases in specialised centres may improve the resectability rates and survival in a selected group of patients.     

Repeat hepatic surgery for colorectal cancer metastasis to the liver.

OBJECTIVE: The authors addressed whether a repeat hepatic operation is warranted in patients with recurrent isolated hepatic metastases. Are the results as good after second operation as after first hepatic operation? SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Five-year survival after initial hepatic operation for colorectal metastases is approximately 33%. Because available alternative methods of treatment provide inferior results, hepatic resection for isolated colorectal metastasis currently is well accepted as the best treatment option. However, the main cause of death after liver resection for colorectal metastasis is tumor recurrence. METHODS: Records of 95 patients undergoing initial hepatic operation and 10 patients undergoing repeat operation for isolated hepatic metastases were reviewed for operative morbidity and mortality, survival, disease-free survival, and pattern of failure. The literature on repeat hepatic resection for colorectal metastases was reviewed. RESULTS: The mean interval between the initial colon operation and first hepatic resection was 14 months. The mean interval between the first and second hepatic operation was 17 months. Operative mortality was 0%. At a mean follow-up of 33 +/- 27 months, survival in these ten patients was 100% at 1 year and 88% +/- 12% at 2 years. Disease-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 60% +/- 16% and 45% +/- 17%, respectively. After second hepatic operation, recurrence has been identified in 60% of patients at a mean of 24 +/- 30 months (median 9 months). Two of these ten patients had a third hepatic resection. Survival and disease-free survival for the 10 patients compared favorably with the 95 patients who underwent initial hepatic resection. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat hepatic operation for recurrent colorectal metastasis to the liver yields comparable results to first hepatic operations in terms of operative mortality and morbidity, survival, disease-free survival, and pattern of recurrence. This work helps to establish that repeat hepatic operation is the most successful form of treatment for isolated recurrent colorectal metastases.     

Surgical management of recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastases

The optimal treatment for recurrent lesions after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases is controversial. We report the outcome of aggressive surgery for recurrent disease after the initial hepatectomy and the influence on quality of life of such treatment. Forty-five (70%) of the 64 surviving patients developed recurrence after the initial hepatectomy for liver metastases. The determinants of hepatic recurrence were the distribution and the number of liver metastases. Twenty-eight (62%) of patients with recurrence underwent resection. A second hepatectomy was performed in 20 patients, and a third hepatectomy was done in 5 patients. Ten patients with pulmonary metastasis underwent partial lung resection on 14 occasions, while resection of brain metastases was performed in 3 patients on 5 occasions. There were no operative deaths after resection of recurrent disease. The morbidity rate was 28% after repeat hepatectomy, 21% after pulmonary resection, and 0% after resection of brain metastasis. The Karnofsky performance status (PS) after the last surgery was not significantly different from that after the initial hepatectomy. The 3- and 5-year survival rates after the second hepatectomy were 54% and 14%, respectively. The 3-and 5-year survival rates of the patients undergoing resection of extrahepatic recurrence were both 17%. The survival rate after resection of recurrent disease (n=28) was significantly better than that of patients (n=17) with unresectable recurrence (P < 0.05). For the 66 patients with colorectal liver metastases, the 5-year survival rate after initial hepatectomy was 50%. The distribution and the number of liver metastases and the presence of extrahepatic disease, as single factors, significantly affected prognosis after the initial hepatectomy. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the presence of extrahepatic metastasis and a disease-free interval of less than 6 months were independent predictors of survival after the initial and second hepatectomy, respectively. It is concluded that aggressive surgery is an effective strategy for selected patients with recurrence after initial hepatectomy. Careful selection of candidates for repeat surgery will yield increased clinical benefit, including long-term survival.     

Second liver resections are safe and effective treatment for recurrent hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer: a bi-institutional analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of repeat liver resection for recurrent colorectal metastases to the liver. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Liver resection represents the best and a potentially curative treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver. After resection, however, most patients develop recurrent disease, often isolated to the liver. METHODS: This study reports the combined experience of repeat liver resection for recurrent liver metastases at an American and a European surgical oncology center. Patients were identified from prospective databases and records were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 126 patients (American n = 96, 1986-2001; European n = 30, 1985-1999) underwent repeat liver resection. Patient characteristics were similar in the two institutions. Median follow-up from first liver resection was 88 and 105 months, respectively. RESULTS: Operations performed included 90 minor resections and 36 resections of a lobe or more. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 86%, 51%, and 34%. There were 19 actual 5-year survivors to date. By multivariate regression analysis (proportional hazard model), more than one lesion and tumor size larger than 5 cm were independent prognostic indicators of reduced survival. The interval between the first and second liver resection was not predictive of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat liver resection for colorectal liver metastases is safe. Patients with a low tumor load are the best candidates for a repeat resection. In well-selected patients, further resection of the liver can provide prolonged survival after recurrence of colorectal liver metastases.     

Repeat hepatic resection as effective treatment for recurrent colorectal liver metastases

Background: Approximately 20–40% of patients who undergo liver resection for colorectal metastases develop recurrent disease confined to the liver. The goals of this study were to determine whether the survival benefit of repeat hepatic resection justified the potential morbidity and mortality. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients who underwent liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases between 1983 and 1995 (N=202). Repeat liver resections were performed on 23 patients for recurrent metastases. Results: There were no operative deaths in the 23 patients, and the postoperative morbidity rate was 22%. The 5-year actuarial survival rate after repeat resection was 32%, with a median length of survival of 39.9 months. There were three patients who survived for >5 years after repeat resection. Sixteen patients (70%) developed recurrent disease at a median interval of 11 months after the second resection; 10 of these 16 patients (62%) had new hepatic metastases. No clinical or pathological factors were significant in predicting long-term survival. Conclusions: Repeat liver resection for recurrent colorectal metastases (a) can be performed safely with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates and (b) may result in long-term survival in some patients.Presented at the 49th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Atlanta, Georgia, March 21–24, 1996.     

Prognostic factors for poor survival after repeat hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND: The recurrence rate for colorectal liver metastases after repeat hepatic resection is high, and selection criteria for repeat hepatectomy are still controversial. METHODS: Clinical data of patients undergoing repeat hepatectomy for metastatic colon cancer were reviewed retrospectively and compared with those of initial hepatectomy and other treatments to determine criteria for repeat hepatectomy and to confirm its efficacy. RESULTS: For 22 patients who underwent repeat hepatectomy, no mortality and an 18% morbidity rate were observed. The 3-year survival rate after repeat hepatectomy was 49%. The only poor prognostic factor after repeat hepatectomy was a serum carcinoembryonic antigen level greater than 50 ng/mL before initial hepatectomy. The prognosis for patients who underwent repeat hepatectomy and had shown high carcinoembryonic antigen levels before initial hepatectomy was approximately equal to that for the patients who received systemic chemotherapy or hepatic arterial infusion for unresectable tumors in the remnant liver. CONCLUSION: Repeat hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases can be performed safely and appears to be as effective as initial hepatectomy. However, for patients with a carcinoembryonic antigen level greater than 50 ng/mL before the initial hepatectomy, repeat hepatic resection alone may not be as effective, and a new strategy is needed.     

Diagnosis and treatment of colorectal liver metastases - workflow

In this review, standards of diagnosis and treatment of colorectal liver metastases are described on the basis of a workshop discussion. Algorithms of care for patients with synchronous / metachronous colorectal liver metastases or locoregional recurrent tumour are presented. Surgical resection is the procedure of choice in the curative treatment of liver metastases. The decision about the resection of liver metastases should consider the following parameters: 1. General operability of the patient (comorbidity); 2. Achievability of an R 0 situation: i. if necessary, in combination with ablative methods, ii. if necessary, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, iii. the ability to eradicate extrahepatic tumour manifestations; 3. Sufficient volume of the liver remaining after resection ("future liver remnant = FLR): i. if necessary, in combination with portal vein embolisation or two-stage hepatectomy; 4. The feasibility to preserve two contiguous hepatic segments with adequate vascular inflow and outflow as well as biliary drainage; 5. Tumour biological aspects ("prognostic variables"); 6. Experience of the surgeon and centre! Extrahepatic disease does not contraindicate hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases provided a complete resection of both intra- and extrahepatic disease is feasible. Even in bilobar colorectal metastases and 5 or more tumours in the liver, a complete tumour resection has been described. The type of resection (hepatic wedge resection or anatomic resection) does not influence the recurrence rate. Preoperative volumetry is indicated when major hepatic resection is planned. The FLR should be 25 % in patients with normal liver, 40 % in patients who have received intensive chemotherapy or in cases of fatty liver, liver fibrosis or diabetes, and 50-60 % in patients with cirrhosis. In patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases, preoperative chemotherapy enables complete resection in 15-30 % of the cases, whereas the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable liver metastases has not been sufficiently supported. In situ ablative procedures (radiofrequency ablation = RFA and laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy = LITT) are local therapy options in selected patients who are not candidates for resection (central recurrent liver metastases, bilobar multiple metastases and high-risk resection or restricted patient operability). Patients with tumours larger than 3 cm have a high local recurrence rate after percutaneous RFA and are not optimal candidates for this procedure. The physician's experience influences the results significantly, both after hepatectomy and after in situ ablation. Therefore, patients with colorectal liver metastases should be treated in centres with experience in liver surgery.     

Surgical treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer

We analyze our experience over a 10-year period in the surgical treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Between 01.01.1995 and 08.31.2005 189 liver resections were performed in 171 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer (16 re-resections - 2 in the same patient and a "two-stage" liver resection in 2 patients). In our series there were 83 patients with synchronous liver metastases (69 simultaneous resections, 12 delayed resections and 2 "two-stage" liver resection were performed) and 88 metachronous liver metastases. Almost all types of liver resections have been performed. The morbidity and mortality rates were 17.4% and 4.7%, respectively. Median survival was 28.5 months and actuarial survival at 1-, 3- and 5-year was 78.7%, 40.4% and 32.7%, respectively. Between January 2002 and August 2005 hyperthermic ablation of colorectal cancer liver metastases has been performed in 6 patients; in other 5 patients with multiple bilobar liver metastases liver resection was associated with radiofrequency ablation and one patient underwent only radiofrequency ablation for recurrent liver metastasis. In conclusion, although the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases is multimodal (resection, ablation, chemotherapy and radiation therapy), liver resection is the only potential curative treatment. The quality and volume of remnant liver parenchyma is the only limitation of liver resection. The morbidity, mortality and survival rates after simultaneous liver and colorectal resection are similar with those achieved by delayed resection. Postoperative outcome of patients with major hepatic resection is correlated with the surgical team experience. The long-term survival was increased using the new multimodal treatment schemes.     

Management of colorectal liver metastases

Hepatic metastases occur in 60% of patients following resection for colorectal cancer. Liver resection is the only curative option, with one third of resected patients alive at five years. In those developing recurrence in the liver following resection, further liver surgery may be curative, with similar 5 years survival rates of about 30%. Until recently surgery was feasible in only 15–25% of patients with colorectal liver metastases. New strategies, such as downstaging chemotherapy, portal vein embolization and two‐stage hepatectomy, may increase the resectability rate by 15%. Earlier detection of liver metastases would increase resectability, although good follow‐up trials are lacking. Once suspected, colorectal liver metastases are staged by spiral CT, CT portography and MRI, which have similar overall accuracies. Mortality following liver resection is less than 5% in major centres, with a morbidity rate of 20% to 50%. Prognostic scoring systems can be used to predict the likely cure rate with resection. Pulmonary metastases occur in 10–25% of patients with resected colorectal cancer, but are limited to the lung in only 2% of cases. In these selected cases surgery provides long‐term survival in 20–40%, and repeat lung resection has shown similar rates. For patients with unresectable disease, chemotherapy and ablation techniques have been demonstrated to prolong survival, although chemotherapy alone has been shown to improve quality of life.