[Resection of liver metastasis: higher chance of survival]

In patients with colorectal liver metastases, resection is the only intentionally curative therapy. It is stated that follow-up after a resection of primary colorectal malignancies does not favourably influence patient outcome. However, follow-up can identify 12% of patients with isolated liver metastases in whom liver resection should be performed. One third of these patients can be cured by liver surgery. In general, medical care is provided for lower chances of survival and freedom of disease. Local ablative therapies are probably useful, but need to be evaluated in a randomised trial. Tumour progression of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients, during the long waiting time for liver transplantation, necessitates the use of radiofrequency ablation. Minimally invasive techniques for liver resections seem to be promising but need to be evaluated before they can be more widely applied.