title: Benefits and safety of hepatic resection for colorectal metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic colorectal carcinoma to the liver is a potentially curable disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-one consecutive hepatic resections in 110 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer between January 1978 and September 1998 performed by a single surgeon were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The actuarial 5-year survival for all patients in the series was 46%. Of the patients operated on before 1993, the actual 5-year survival was 43% and actual disease-free 5-year survival was 28%. The actual 10-year survival was 27%, and of all patients operated on in the last 20 years, 48% are alive today. When comparing initial regional lymph node status, the 5-year survival was 54% for the patients with negative lymph nodes and 40% for patients with positive nodes. Only 18% of patients required a perioperative blood transfusion, and the median length of stay was 7 days. There were complications in 34% of cases, and the operative mortality was 4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic resection for metastatic colon cancer is safe, and significant longevity and cure can be obtained after resection.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98111, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Biehl
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome