Outcome of hepatectomy for patients with multiple hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

Objective Survival benefit of resection for multiple liver metastases has not been established.This study was to investigate the effect of resection of multiple hepatic colorectal metastases.Methods Sixty patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer received liver resection from Jan 1996 to Dec 2006,including 25 cases with two or more liver metastases,35 with solitary liver metastasis.Clinical and outcome data were retrospectively analyzed between multiple liver metastases and solitary liver metastasis.Results The perioperative morbidity rate was 12.0% in multiple metastases group and 11.4% in solitary metastasis group(P=1.000),and no mortalityin either group.The respective mean hospital duration was(14.9±5.1)days and(15.7±5.8)days(P=0.844),the median overall survival(OS) time was 28 and 35 months(P=0.089),the median disease free survival(DFS) time was 16 and 19 months(P=0.112),and the intrahepatic recurrencerates were 72.0 % and 51.5%(P=0.109).The 3and 5year overall survival rates were 48.4%,and 30.8%,respectively,in multiple metastases group and 68.6%,57.7%,respectively,in solitary metastasis group(P=0.165).Conclusions There is no significant differences of OS time and DFS time in two groups.Liver resection is not a contraindication for multiple liver metastases.In the current era of effective chemotherapy,aggressive approach with hepatectomy,followed by adjuvant chemotherapy could offer an improved prognosis for multiple liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.