MANAGEMENT OF GASTRIC-CANCER PATIENTS WITH SYNCHRONOUS HEPATIC METASTASIS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background/Aims: In order to improve the management of patients of gas tric cancer with synchronous hepatic metastasis, their records were re trospectively studied. Materials and Methods: From January 1981 to Jul y 1993, 558 gastric cancer patients were admitted in our institute. Tw enty-five with synchronous hepatic metastasis were used in, this study . Among these 25 patients, six had hepatic metastasis alone and ninete en, had some other additional noncurative prognostic factors. For the primary lesion, 12 patients received gastrectomy (total or distal subt otal) and 13 patients did not. For the hepatic metastasis, 12 patients had regional therapy (hepatectomy or hepatic arterial chemotherapy) a nd 13 had not. Both gastrectomy and regional therapy for hepatic metas tasis were carried out in 6 patients who had hepatic metastasis alone. Results: Five year cumulative survival rate was 9% Survival rate of p atients with hepatic metastasis alone was significantly better than th e patients with additional noncurative factors (p<0.05). The two long term survivors in this study had no other noncurative factors except h epatic metastasis. Conclusions: Neither gastrectomy nor regional thera py for hepatic metastasis had beneficial effects on the patients with additional noncurative factors. Gastrectomy and regional therapy for h epatic metastasis should be performed in patients without additional n oncurative factors.