Long-term results of treating hepatic colorectal metastases with cryosurgery.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of cryosurgery as an adjunct to hepatic resection in patients with colorectal liver metastases not amenable to resection alone.


METHODS
Thirty patients met the following inclusion criteria: metastases confined to the liver and judged irresectable, ten or fewer metastases, cryosurgery alone or in combination with hepatic resection allowed tumour clearance.


RESULTS
Median follow-up was 26 (range 9--73) months. Overall 1- and 2-year survival rates were 76 and 61 per cent respectively. Median survival was 32 months. Disease-free survival at 1 year was 35 per cent, at 2 years 7 per cent. Six patients developed recurrence at the site of cryosurgery; given that the total number of cryosurgery-treated lesions was 69 the local recurrence rate was 9 per cent.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with colorectal liver metastases, local ablative techniques can be used as an effective adjunct to hepatic resection to obtain tumour clearance.
Ruers
T J
TJ
Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. T.Ruers@heel.azn.nl
Joosten
J
J
Jager
G J
GJ
Wobbes
T
T
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome