Repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer is accepted as a safe, and curative treatment. Furthermore, repeat hepatectomy has been indicated for hepatic recurrence after initial hepatectomy to achieve long-term survival or cure. The present study is a retrospective review of our results using repeat hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases to identify outcomes and prognostic factors associated with long-term survival. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-four patients underwent an initial hepatectomy for colorectal metastases between 1990 and 1995. Thirty patients had hepatic recurrence after the initial hepatectomy. Eleven patients underwent repeat hepatectomy for isolated hepatic recurrence. RESULTS: The operative mortality was 0%. The overall 5-year survival rate after detection of second liver metastases of 11 patients was 45.5%. The distribution of first liver metastases and disease-free interval between the first and second hepatectomy demonstrated significance in relation to survival after repeat hepatectomy (P = 0.0303 and 0.0338). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat hepatectomy for recurrent liver metastases from colorectal cancer was the most effective treatment to improve survival time for selected patients. In patients with isolated second liver metastasis, unilateral spread of first liver metastases, and a disease-free interval between the first and second hepatectomies of more than 12 months, long-term survival or cure can be expected after repeat hepatectomy.