Impact of resection for primary colorectal cancer on outcomes in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the impact of resection for primary colorectal cancer on oncologic outcomes in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on 91 consecutive patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases who underwent resection of the primary colorectal cancer between December 1999 and December 2007. Of the 91 patients, 54 (59.3%) also underwent complete (R0) resection for liver metastases, and 84 (92.3%) received postoperative chemotherapy. The oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
Operative mortality was 1.1%, and morbidity was 37.4%. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 44.5% and 26.8%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that residual disease after surgery (non-R0 resection; p = 0.003), lymph node metastasis of the primary tumor (p = 0.015), and no postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for poor survival. Independent predictors of an inability to achieve a complete resection were the presence of three or more liver metastases and the presence of extrahepatic disease at exploration. Significant differences in survival existed among the three risk stratification groups (no-, low-, and high-risk groups; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The inability to safely render the liver and colon microscopically free of disease should cause a surgeon to reconsider synchronous colectomy and hepatectomy. A multidisciplinary approach that combines both complete resection of synchronous colorectal liver metastases and postoperative chemotherapy may achieve improved survival in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases.
Huh
Jung Wook
JW
Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, South Korea.
Cho
Chol Kyoon
CK
Kim
Hyeong Rok
HR
Kim
Young Jin
YJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011172:Portography; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome