110 consecutive laparotomies for hepatic metastasis

From 1978 to 1988, we performed 110 laparotomies for hepatic metastases. With 41 resections for colorectal metastases, the survival was 34% at 3 years. The operative mortality was 7%. With 25 resections for non colorectal liver metastases, the survival was 42% at 1 year, 12% at 3 years. The results, compared with those of literature justify, in the absence of any other potential curative treatment, to remove colorectal liver metastases. For metastases from other tumours, results of resection for endocrine tumours and few sarcomas invite us to an aggressive approach.