A NEW MACROSCOPIC CLASSIFICATION PREDICTS PROGNOSIS FOR PATIENT WITH LIVER METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL-CANCER

Objective The authors defined a new macroscopic classification of live r metastases from colorectal cancer. Summary Background Data There wer e different prognostic results after the same operative procedure for liver metastases with similar background factors. Methods Eighty-one r esected liver metastases were classified into simple nodular (SN) or c onfluent nodular (CN) types according to the characteristics of the cu t surface of the tumor. Results The 5-year survival rates after hepate ctomy were 41.7% for the SN lesions (n = 39) and 23.1% for the CN lesi ons (n = 42). The difference between the survival curves was statistic ally significant (p = 0.0307). Multivariate analysis using Cox's propo rtional hazards model revealed that the macroscopic type (p = 0.023), the tumor diameter (p = 0.0001), and the presence of lymph node metast ases (p = 0.0016) were statistically significant independent prognosti c factors. Conclusion The new macroscopic classification may be valuab le as a prognostic factor reflecting the biologic behavior of liver me tastases.