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fiogf49gjkf04 Liver metastases, especially those from primary colorectal cancers, are treatable and potentially curable.
The recent development of imaging techniques, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and ultrasonography, has led to increased sensitivity in the diagnosis of liver metastases.
In addition, liver surgery has been revolutionized in the past 2 decades. Dissection along non-anatomical lines permits the resection of multiple lesions that previously have been considered unresectable.
In this study, researchers from Naples, Italy, assessed 181 patients who underwent liver resection for hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer, between 1986 and 2000.
 | | 5-year survival rate was 40%. | | Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery |
Of the 181 patients, 56 underwent systematic anatomical major hepatic resection, and 125 underwent non-anatomical limited resection.
The research team found that operative morbidity and mortality rates were higher in patients in whom anatomical procedures were performed.
The overall 5-year survival rate of all 181 patients was 40%.
Dr Giulio Belli's team concluded, "An aggressive surgical procedure in patients with hepatic colorectal metastases is safe, and may prolong overall survival, and therefore should be considered in all patients with metastases confined to the liver".
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