RESECTION OF HEPATIC METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL-CANCER - INDICATIONS AND INITIAL RESULTS

We report our initial experience in the resection of metastases from c olo-rectal cancer confined to the liver. Seventeen hepatic resections were performed in sixteen patients over a thirty-eight monts period. M edian age was 58 years (45-75). The extent of liver involvement was as sessed by computerized tomographic portography and magnetic resonance. In fourteen cases there was a solitary lesion. Mean interval time bet ween colo-rectal resection and hepatic resection was 18 months (0-69). Twelve major hepatic resections and five wedge resections were perfor med. There was not operative mortality. Seven patients received comple mentary chemoterapy. Mean follow-up was 14.8 months (2-34). One patien t died from carcinoma of the lung, five patients (31,25%) are alive wi th recurrence of some sort (three recurrences being in the liver) and ten patients (62,5 %) are free of disease. Indications for resection, methods used for identification of candidates, prognostic determinants and indications for complementary chemoterapy are discused.