The role of hepatectomy for patients with liver metastases of gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Although the role of hepatectomy for patients with colorectal liver metastases is well established, few reports exist of hepatectomy for patients with metastases of gastric cancer origin. This study reviews cases of hepatectomy for metastatic gastric cancer at Fujita Health University Hospital.


METHODS
Between 1989 and 2004, 18 patients underwent hepatectomy for liver metastases from gastric cancer. The patients consisted of 16 men and 2 women and their ages ranged from 51-76 (median 64) years. Hepatic resection was indicated for patients with synchronous metastases who did not have peritoneal dissemination or any other distant metastases (11 patients), and patients with metachronous metastases who did not have any other recurrent lesions (7 patients).


RESULTS
Overall survival rate for 1, 2, 3, and 5 years are 56.3, 36.5, 27.3, and 27.3%, respectively. Although the 5-year survival rate was considerable, an early and rapid decrease of survival rate occurred in the first 1-2 years (compared with the colorectal patients). Univariate analysis showed serosal invasion and lymphatic invasion of the primary tumor as significant prognostic factors for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical resection for liver metastases of gastric cancer is thought to be beneficial for small part of the patients. For other patients, the procedure may only provide the limited beneficial effects on survival.
Morise
Zenichi
Z
Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukakecho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. zmorise@aol.com
Sugioka
Atsushi
A
Hoshimoto
Sojun
S
Kato
Takazumi
T
Ikeda
Masahiro
M
Uyama
Ichiro
I
Horiguchi
Akihiko
A
Miyakawa
Shuichi
S
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome