Epidemiology and management of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the epidemiology and the management of liver metastases from colorectal cancer at a population level. The aim of this population-based study was to report on the incidence, treatment, and prognosis of synchronous and metachronous liver metastases.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the population-based cancer registry of Burgundy (France).


RESULTS
The proportion of patients with synchronous liver metastases was 14.5%. Age-standardized incidence rates were 7.6 per 100,000 in males, 3.7 per 100,000 in females. The 5-year cumulative metachronous liver metastasis rate was 14.5%. It was 3.7% for TNM stage I tumors, 13.3% for stage II, and 30.4% for stage III (P < 0.001). The risk of liver metastasis was also associated to gross features. Resection for cure was performed in 6.3% of synchronous liver metastases and 16.9% of metachronous liver metastases. Age, presence of another site of recurrence, and period of diagnosis were independent factors associated with the performance of a resection for cure. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 34.8% and 3.3% for synchronous liver metastases. Their corresponding rates were, respectively, 37.6% and 6.1% for metachronous liver metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Liver metastases from colorectal cancer remain a substantial problem. More effective treatments and mass screening represent promising approaches to decrease this problem.
Manfredi
Sylvain
S
Registre Bourguignon des Cancers Digestifs, Faculté de Médecine, Dijon Cedex, France.
Lepage
Côme
C
Hatem
Cyril
C
Coatmeur
Olivier
O
Faivre
Jean
J
Bouvier
Anne-Marie
AM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome