title: [Does complete response of liver metastases from colorectal cancer after chemotherapy mean cure?].
abstract: In the present report, we describe the case of a patient who underwent chemotherapy for single liver metastasis, which appeared after complete resection of the primary lesion and multiple liver metastases. The initial complete response was confirmed by diagnostic imaging, but the recurrent single liver metastasis subsequently appeared at the same site. A 67- year-old man underwent Hartmann's procedure after being diagnosed with obstructive rectal cancer in June 2008. The final diagnosis was advanced cancer of RS, tub 2, type 2, pSS, pN2, and cH2 (Grade C). Complete resection of the multiple liver metastases was performed by extended left lobectomy and partial resection in August 2008. Adjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 was initiated 2 months after the hepatectomy. However, abdominal computed tomography( CT) revealed a 5-mm-sized single nodule on the liver( S7) at 3 months after surgery. The patient did not want to undergo another hepatectomy, and continued to receive chemotherapy. Abdominal CT revealed that the small nodule disappeared 7 months after surgery. Treatment was discontinued after 10 courses of mFOLFOX6. However, after 5 months, abdominal CT revealed that a single hepatic nodule( 1.5 cm) appeared at the same site. We continued chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI accompanied with a molecular target-based drug. At present, 51 months have passed since the appearance of the recurrent hepatic metastasis, and the metastatic lesion has remained as a single lesion, and no other organ metastases have been observed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery, Fujisaki Hospital.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
authors.forename: Motoi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takashina
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Ryouichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Tadatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence