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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
The Influence of Liver Resection on Intrahepatic Tumor Growth
Published on: April 9, 2016
Liver metastases from breast cancer. Results of surgical resection
Massimo Carlini1, Maria Teresa Lonardo, Fabio Carboni
1Department of Surgery, Division of Digestive Surgery and Liver Transplant, Regina Elena Institute for Cancer Research, Rome, Italy. maxcarlini@tiscali.it
Background/Aims:
Purpose of this study is to define the effectiveness of surgical resection of liver metastases from operated breast cancer.
Methodology:
Nineteen patients underwent surgical exploration to resect liver metastases from previously operated breast carcinoma. Seventeen patients were resected: 15 patients had unique metastases and were submitted to a wedge liver resection while 2 had multiple lesions; in these cases a V-VI segmentectomy and a right hepatectomy was required. After liver resection 11 patients received chemotherapy, 2 chemotherapy plus hormone therapy, 2 hormone therapy alone and in the remaining 2 no adjuvant treatment was done.
Results:
Postoperative mortality was nil and morbidity consisted of 1 subphrenic abscess and 1 pleural effusion. Actuarial 5-year survival rate was 46%. Eight patients are still alive, 7 of whom are disease-free. Nine patients died for neoplastic progression.
Conclusions:
Surgical resection of liver metastases from breast cancer seems to be able to improve long-term survival in selected patients with unique and isolated lesions especially in association to systemic chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
