Comparison of resection and radiofrequency ablation for treatment of solitary colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is the treatment of choice for patients with solitary colorectal liver metastases. In recent years, however, radiofrequency ablation has been used increasingly in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. In the absence of randomized clinical trials, this study aimed to compare outcome in patients with solitary colorectal liver metastases treated by surgery or by radiofrequency ablation. METHODS: Solitary colorectal liver metastases were treated by radiofrequency destruction in 25 patients. The indications were extrahepatic disease in seven, vessel contiguity in nine and co-morbidity in nine patients. Outcome was compared with that of 20 patients who were treated by liver resection for solitary metastases and had no evidence of extrahepatic disease. Most patients in both groups also received systemic chemotherapy. RESULTS: Median survival after liver resection was 41 (range 0-97) months with a 3-year survival rate of 55.4 per cent. There was one postoperative death and morbidity was minimal. Median survival after radiofrequency ablation was 37 (range 9-67) months with a 3-year survival rate of 52.6 per cent. CONCLUSION: Survival after resection and radiofrequency ablation of solitary colorectal liver metastases was comparable. The latter is less invasive and requires either an overnight stay or day-case facilities only.     

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.     

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.     

结直肠癌肝转移的外科治疗

外科手术是治疗结直肠癌肝转移的重要手段。手术切除的适应证已扩展至满足肝内肿瘤能全部切除、切缘阴性、肝脏储备功能足够即可;而手术切除联合局部治疗进一步扩大了手术适应证。转移癌及原发癌一期或二期手术的远期生存率比较,差异无统计学意义。腹腔镜手术治疗结直肠癌肝转移安全可行,疗效确切。围手术期辅助化疗疗效并不明确,新辅助化疗可能不会使所有患者都受益。     

Electrolytic ablation of colorectal liver metastases: 1-year histological patient follow-up

Whilst up to 50% of patients with colorectal carcinoma will develop liver metastases, only 20% of those patients will be amenable to potentially curative liver resection. There is therefore great need for other effective therapies, and we report complete ablation of a colorectal liver metastasis using electrolysis, which was histologically confirmed at 1 year. The clinical impact of complete tumour ablation at 1 year means that a proportion of those patients currently deemed inoperable and therefore incurable, may be suitable for curative treatment.     

Outcome after hepatic resection versus combined resection and microwave ablation for multiple bilobar colorectal metastases to the liver

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of microwave ablation plus hepatectomy for multiple bilobar colorectal metastases to the liver. No consensus exists concerning local ablation plus hepatic resection for treating multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases, partly because of a lack of long-term comparative survival data. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data were analyzed retrospectively for 53 consecutive patients with 5 or more bilobar liver metastases from colorectal cancer who underwent hepatectomy with or without microwave ablation. Outcome measures were recurrence rate, recurrence pattern, and survival. RESULTS: Combined resection/ablation was performed more frequently in patients with more liver metastases (P = .03). No significant differences were found for overall, disease-free, or hepatic recurrence-free survival between 16 patients with resection/ablation and 37 patients with resection (P = .43, .54, and .86, respectively). Multivariate analysis selected prehepatectomy carcinoembryonic antigen concentration in serum as an independent prognosticator for survival (P = .02), but not resection/ablation versus resection. In patients with combined resection/ablation, recurrence occurred near the resection or ablation line in only 2 patient (22%), whereas multiple neoplasms (>/=4) was the most common liver recurrence pattern (78%). CONCLUSIONS: Microwave ablation plus hepatic resection expanded indications for operation to treat multiple bilobar liver metastases, with survival similar to that in less-involved hepatic resection patients.     

Colorectal metastasis (liver and lung)

Distant metastases are the major cause of death for colorectal carcinoma patients. Depending on the primary tumor's stage, liver metastases occur in 20% to 70% of patients and lung metastases in 10% to 20%. Unlike many other cancers, the presence of distant metastases from colorectal cancer does not preclude curative treatment. Surgical resection remains the only treatment that can ensure long-term survival and cure in some patients, but only a minority of liver metastases are amenable to surgery. New treatment modalities including portal vein embolization, perioperative chemotherapy and local destruction with cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation may make more patients suitable for surgical resection of hepatic metastases and may prolong survival in cases of nonresectabilitv. The availability of new active drugs has changed the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.     

Liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma--may the DRG-system influence the operative procedure?

The economic analysis of surgery in colorectal liver metastases reveals the different effectiveness of various follow-up programmes after curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Interval hepatic resection for synchronous liver metastases is recommended in the majority of cases with rectal cancer. This procedure provides benefits for the patient and the hospital under the economic point of view. The interval between primary tumor resection and surgery of liver metastases does not deteriorate the prognosis, on the contrary, unnecessary resections will be avoided if additional metastases will grow in the time between, excluding curative treatment (selection mechanism). The identical statement cannot be applied to patients with colon cancer, since the operative risk is only slightly increased in case of easily accessible liver metastases which may be removed simultaneously. However, also in these patients interval hepatic resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered as a therapeutic option! In patients with multiple liver metastases liver surgery as well as radiofrequency ablation or a combination of both may be economically justified. Radiofrequency ablation is the preferred palliative procedure under aspects of cost-effectiveness, however, wether this procedure is superior to chemotherapy alone has not be evaluated so far in prospectively randomized trials.     

Liver resection for colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second commonest malignancy in the UK. Metastases to the liver occur in greater than 50% of patients and remain the biggest determinant of outcome in these patients. Liver resection is a safe procedure that achieves good long-term survival, but surgery has traditionally been limited to select groups of patients. The improved outcome suggests that more patients could benefit from resection if more was known of what criteria are predictive of a good outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients undergoing surgical resection of the liver for colorectal metastases between March 1989 and March 2001 in the Birmingham Liver Unit. RESULTS: During this period, 212 liver resections for colorectal cancer metastases were performed in 82 females and 130 males. The median follow-up was 16 months with an overall actuarial survival of 86% at 1 year, 54% at 3 years, and 28% at 5 years. The peri-operative mortality was 2.8%. The number and timing (metachronous or synchronous) of metastatic lesions, the gender of the patient, pathological staging of the primary lesion or surgical resection margins had no significant influence on survival. Patients with lesions less than 5 cm in size had a significantly prolonged survival compared with patients with lesions greater than 5 cm in size (P < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection is the only curative treatment for patients with colorectal metastases. The long-term survival reported in patients with resected colorectal metastases confined to the liver is comparable to primary surgery for solid gastrointestinal tumours. Every attempt must be made to increase the availability of liver resection to patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.     

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.     

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.     

Radiofrequency ablation followed by resection of malignant liver tumors.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has recently been used to treat liver tumors, but few clinical reports have described the pathological characteristics of radiofrequency ablation in human specimens. This study delineates the gross pathologic and histochemical changes induced by RFA in benign and malignant human liver tissue and confirms the tumor necrosis described in early clinical reports. METHODS: Ten patients with metastatic tumors of the liver received a single treatment of ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA to 12 tumors. Hepatic resection was carried out within 6 weeks of RFA. Specimens were stained with standard hematoxylin and eosin stain followed by oxidative stain to determine if there was evidence of viable tumor within the zone of ablation. RESULTS: Nine of the 12 ablations were resected. Microscopic examination within the zone of ablation showed successful ablation in 8 of the 9 resected ablations. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous RFA creates well-circumscribed areas of tumor necrosis with apparent cell death using an oxidative stain. Further investigation is encouraged to determine the clinical effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation in the complete destruction of liver tumors for palliative or curative intent.     

Interstitial laser thermotherapy for liver tumours

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastases from colorectal cancer are the most common malignant liver tumours. Surgical resection is the optimum treatment in suitable patients. Interstitial laser thermotherapy (ILT) is gaining acceptance for the treatment of irresectable liver tumours and as a potential alternative to surgery. An understanding of the principles of therapy and review of clinical outcomes may allow better use of this technology. METHOD: An electronic search using the Medline database was performed for studies on the treatment of hepatic malignancy published between January 1983 and February 2003. RESULTS: Current information on the efficacy of ILT is based on prospective studies. ILT appears to be a safe and minimally invasive technique that consistently achieves tumour destruction. The extent of destruction depends on the fibre design, delivery system, tumour size and tumour biology. Real-time magnetic resonance imaging provides the most accurate assessment of laser-induced tumour necrosis. In selected patients with HCC and colorectal cancer liver metastases, ILT achieves complete tumour necrosis, provides long-term local control, and improves survival, compared with the natural history of the disease. In addition, ILT has survival benefits for patients with other tumour types, especially those with isolated liver metastases from a breast cancer primary. CONCLUSION: ILT improves overall survival in specific patients with liver tumours. Advances in laser technology and refinements in technique, and a better understanding of the processes involved in laser-induced tissue injury, may allow ILT to replace surgery as the procedure of choice in selected patients with liver malignancies.     

The management of solitary colorectal liver metastases

Surgical resection of solitary colorectal liver metastases is associated with long-term survival. Radiofrequency ablation used as the primary treatment option of solitary resectable colorectal liver metastases is associated with an increased risk of local recurrence that generally leads to worse survival compared to resection. In contrast with treatment of other hepatic malignancies, radiofrequency ablation is not equivalent to resection for colorectal liver metastases and should not be used as an alternative but limited to inoperable patients. Although overall survival rate after resection can be up to 71% at 5 years, the majority of patients develop recurrence. Preoperative chemotherapy contributes to decrease the risk of recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastases. In patients with advanced solitary colorectal liver metastasis initially non suitable for resection, chemotherapy and portal vein embolization contribute to increase the number of surgical candidates whereas radiofrequency is rarely an option.     

转移性肝癌的治疗理念和策略

转移性肝癌是恶性肿瘤发展的终末阶段,是导致患者死亡的主要原因,其中胃肠道是常见的原发癌部位。人们正尝试通过根治转移性肝癌或控制其发展等多种治疗策略,延长患者生存期。手术治疗、全身化疗、分子靶向治疗、射频消融术、门静脉栓塞术、肝动脉导管栓塞术是转移性肝癌的有效治疗方法,其中手术治疗是转移性肝癌可能获得治愈的有效手段。相比结肠癌肝转移癌,胃癌肝转移癌的治疗正处于探索阶段,但是随着新型有效化疗药物及化疗方案的出现、肝转移癌手术适应证的拓展以及大规模多中心临床试验循证医学证据的涌现,包括胃癌肝转移在内的转移性肝癌的治疗必将朝着一个更加规范,更为有效的方向发展。     

Simultaneous resection of colorectal cancer and liver metastases in the right lobe using pure laparoscopic surgery

It is now common to resect colorectal cancer by laparoscopic surgery. Hepatectomy has become a standard treatment for patients with colorectal cancer with resectable liver metastases. The resection of liver tumors can now be done partly by laparoscopic surgery. However, metastatic tumors in the right lobe are often difficult to resect laparoscopically. Furthermore, simultaneous resection of the colorectum and liver may also be difficult. In this study, we evaluated a new method to resect both colorectal cancer and liver metastases in the right lobe by laparoscopic surgery. Two cases are presented that underwent total laparoscopic resection of a right lobe tumor, associated with laparoscopic colorectal resection. The metastatic tumor in the right lobe was first resected in the left hemi-prone position. Then, the colorectal cancer was resected in the lithotomy position. The method for resecting the right lobe liver tumor and colorectal cancer was safe and feasible. The mean duration of surgery was 443.5 min, and the mean blood loss was 158 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful. In selected patients, laparoscopic hepatectomy for right lobe synchronous metastatic tumors can be safely performed simultaneously with colorectal surgery.     

Recurrence and outcomes following hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation, and combined resection/ablation for colorectal liver metastases

OBJECTIVE: To examine recurrence and survival rates for patients treated with hepatic resection only, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) plus resection or RFA only for colorectal liver metastases. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Thermal destruction techniques, particularly RFA, have been rapidly accepted into surgical practice in the last 5 years. Long-term survival data following treatment of colorectal liver metastasis using RFA with or without hepatic resection are lacking. METHODS: Data from 358 consecutive patients with colorectal liver metastases treated for cure with hepatic resection +/- RFA and 70 patients found at laparotomy to have liver-only disease but not to be candidates for potentially curative treatment were compared (1992-2002). RESULTS: Of 418 patients treated, 190 (45%) underwent resection only, 101 RFA + resection (24%), 57 RFA only (14%), and 70 laparotomy with biopsy only or arterial infusion pump placement ("chemotherapy only," 17%). RFA was used in operative candidates who could not undergo complete resection of disease. Overall recurrence was most common after RFA (84% vs. 64% RFA + resection vs. 52% resection only, P < 0.001). Liver-only recurrence after RFA was fourfold the rate after resection (44% vs. 11% of patients, P < 0.001), and true local recurrence was most common after RFA (9% of patients vs. 5% RFA + resection vs. 2% resection only, P = 0.02). Overall survival rate was highest after resection (58% at 5 years); 4-year survival after resection, RFA + resection and RFA only were 65%, 36%, and 22%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Survival for "unresectable" patients treated with RFA + resection or RFA only was greater than chemotherapy only (P = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice for colorectal liver metastases. RFA alone or in combination with resection for unresectable patients does not provide survival comparable to resection, and provides survival only slightly superior to nonsurgical treatment.     

Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors combined with colorectal procedures

Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is gaining increasing acceptance as a treatment option for primary and secondary liver tumors with minimal morbidity. The purpose of this study is to see if adding a colorectal procedure to RFA increases the risk of hepatic abscess. Of the 310 patients with 1,080 primary and secondary liver tumors undergoing laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA), 16 patients underwent RFA in combination with various colorectal procedures. Data were collected prospectively. The concomitant procedures included loop ileostomy closures in 6 patients; laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy in 3 patients; laparoscopic-assisted anterior resection in 2 patients; and open transverse colectomy, open anterior resection, open low anterior resection, open loop transverse colostomy formation, and anal stricture dilatation in 1 patient each. Mean +/- SD hospital stay was 2.9 +/- 1.7 days. There was no mortality, and the only complication was the development of a right flank abscess after laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy that was treated with percutaneous drainage. Although patients undergoing laparoscopic RFA in combination with a clean-contaminated procedure could be at high risk for secondary infection of ablated foci, this was not observed. This approach is safe and does not impair recovery from either procedure. These data support the concept that RFA may be safely used with concomitant colon resections to treat liver metastases that may be resectable but are associated with increased morbidity if resected synchronously.     

Chirurgische Therapie von Lebermetastasen

The treatment of liver metastases has become more and more complex in recent years. More individualized therapeutic concepts have become feasible by the increase in different treatment options (surgical, interventional and oncological). In the field of surgery the definition of resectability could be broadened. More extensive liver resections are being performed, which are partly carried out as staged resections after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with portal vein embolization (PVE), radio frequency ablation (RFA) or other procedures in order to increase complete resection rates and patient survival. Consequently the overall 5 year survival rate of patients with resected colorectal liver metastases has doubled from 30% to nearly 60% in the past decade. Due to the complexity of the different treatment approaches an interdisciplinary assessment of the individual patient in experienced centers is necessary.     

Cryotherapy for primary and secondary liver tumours

AIMS: We assessed the morbidity, mortality and efficacy of cryotherapy for primary and secondary malignant liver tumours in a prospective case control study. METHODS: Since 1996 we performed 77 cryosurgical procedures on 71 patients. 6 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma, the remainders metastases, mainly of colorectal origin (n = 49). Cryotherapy was used when a complete tumour resection was not feasible, but complete tumour destruction by cryotherapy seemed possible. Mean follow-up was 21 months. RESULTS: The mean number of lesions per patient was 2.6 (1-10) with a mean maximum diameter of 3.7 cm (1-11). In 36 of 71 patients cryotherapy was used in combination with liver resection. Morbidity and hospital mortality were 23 % and 2.8 %. In 25 of 34 patients with colorectal primary and preoperatively elevated CEA it returned to normal postoperatively (74 %). 40 of the 60 patients with "R0-treatment" developed tumour recurrence, 10 of these at the cryosite (17 %). Median survival for all patients (colorectal metastases) was 28 (29) months with a 3- and 5-year survival rate of 38 % (43 %) and 30 % (33 %), respectively. CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is an effective parenchyma sparing method for the treatment of malignant liver tumours in a curative approach. It can be performed safely and a long-term local tumour control is achieved in a high percentage of patients. Survival rates following cryotherapy appear comparable to the results of liver resection. It seems justified to conduct a prospective randomised trial comparing liver resection and cryotherapy for resectable tumours.