Partial hepatic resection for liver metastases of non-colorectal origin, is it justified?
OBJECTIVE
The liver is a common site of metastases for many solid tumors. Resection of noncolorectal liver metastases is controversial. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate partial liver resection as a treatment option for non-colorectal liver metastases.


METHODS
During a 20-year period, 480 patients underwent partial liver resection. Thirty-two patients (17 male, 15 female, median age 55 years) who received partial liver resection for noncolorectal liver metastases were identified. A detailed analysis of these patients was conducted.


RESULTS
Primary tumors were: medullary thyroid cancer (n=3), Grawitz tumor (n=2), breast carcinoma (n=2), stomach carcinoma (n=2), neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=10), unknown primary origin (n=9) and various other carcinomas (n=4). Operative morbidity and mortality for partial liver resection were 28 and 6%, respectively. The median overall survival time was 37 months, with an actuarial 5-year survival of 42%. Actuarial 5-year survival rates for patients with neuroendocrine and the non-neuroendocrine carcinomas were 22 and 52% respectively (NS). Median survival for patients with carcinoma of unknown primary origin was 43 months with an actual 5-year survival of 44%.


CONCLUSIONS
Partial liver resection for liver metastases of non-colorectal primaries can be performed safely and has survival rates comparable to that of colorectal metastases in carefully selected cases and should therefore be considered.
Verhoef
C
C
Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. c.verhoef@erasmusmc.nl
Kuiken
B W
BW
IJzermans
J N M
JN
de Wilt
J H W
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies