title: Colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases: does global management at the same centre improve results?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Synchronous liver metastases (SLM) occur in 20% of colorectal cancers (CRC). Resection of SLM and CLC can be undertaken at different centres (separate management, SM) or at the same centre (global management, GM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of SLM and CRC resections carried out during 01/2000 - 12/2006 by SM or GM, using a combined or delayed strategy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphologic characteristics and type of CRC and SLM resection were similar for the GM (n = 45) or SM (n = 66) groups. In patients with delayed liver resection (62 SM, 17 GM), chemotherapy prior to liver surgery was used in 92% and 38% of SM and GM patients (P < 0.0001) and the median delay between procedures was 212 and 182 days, respectively (P = 0.04). First step of liver resection was more often performed during colorectal surgery in the GM group (62 vs. 6% for SM, P < 0.0001) and the mean number of procedures (CRC+SLM) was lower (1.6 vs. 2.3, P = 0.003). Three-month mortality was 3% for GM and 0% for SM (n.s.). Overall survival rates were 67% and 51% for SM and GM at 3 years (n.s.), and 35 and 31% at 5 years (n.s.). Disease-free survival to 5 years was higher in SM patients (14% vs. 11%, P = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GM of CRC and SLM was associated with fewer procedures but did not influence overall survival. SM was associated with a longer delay and increased use of chemotherapy between procedures, suggesting that more rigorous selection of SM patients for surgery may explain the higher disease-free survival after SLM resection.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie hépatobiliaire et digestive, hôpital Pontchaillou, centre hospitalier universitaire de Rennes, université de Rennes-1, 2, rue Henri-Le-Guilloux, 35033 Rennes cedex 9, France. fabernard@ymail.com
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sulpice
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Compagnon
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boudjema
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome