title: Synchronous resection of colorectal primary cancer and liver metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases are thought to have a less favorable prognosis than those with colorectal cancer alone. Surgical treatment options are controversial, be it synchronous resection or staged resection. This study compared the clinical, perioperative, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) results of patients undergoing synchronous resection versus staged resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cohort study of 103 patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases was performed. All data were collected prospectively. Clinical, perioperative, DFS, and OS results of patients undergoing synchronous resection (group I, n = 73) and staged resection (group II, n = 30) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More patients in group I had poorly differentiated colorectal cancer, bilobar liver metastases, more than three liver metastases, < or =4 cm liver metastases, and shorter hospital stays than patients in group II. There were no significant statistically differences in DFS and OS between the two groups. The median DFS of groups I and II were 28 and 26 months, respectively (p = 0.585). The median OS of groups I and II were 37 and 36 months, respectively (p = 0.900).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Synchronous resection achieved DFSs and OSs similar to those seen after staged resection while avoiding a second major operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of New South Wales, St. George Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia.
authors.forename: Tristan D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Denis W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis