Total number and size distribution of hepatic metastases of carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the susceptibility of carcinoma to hepatic metastase s by studying autopsy livers with carcinoma metastases, the primary sites o f which were mostly the digestive organs. STUDY DESIGN: We developed a stereologic method of estimating the total num ber, N, and the size distribution of metastatic tumors in the liver based o n a geometric model of spherical nodules with varying radii, r. This method proven to be sufficiently reliable by disector analysis simultaneously per formed in some eases; it gave an approximate result. This method was applie d to the 31 autopsy cases. Correlation and regression analyses were perform ed among N, the mean radius of nodules, r(mean) and conventional pathologic features of the primary tumor. RESULTS: The estimates of N ranged from 10 to 3.2x10(5). A close negative c orrelation was confirmed between N and r(mean). Neither significant correla tion nor regression ions observed among N and the other pathologic factors of the primary tumors, CONCLUSION: N turned out to serve as a useful index for evaluating the meta static potential of a carcinoma. However, investigation has yet to be made to determine biologic factors in the primary tumor closely associated with N.