Resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer

Resection of hepatic metastases of colorectal origin has gained wide acceptance, but when patients have synchronous or metachronous pulmonary metastases, they are often considered incurable and are offered systemic therapy only. We performed a retrospective review of the patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center who underwent resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal origin between 1970 and 1990. Ten patients were identified who met the above criteria. Median survival after hepatic and pulmonary resections were 34 and 18 months, respectively. Actuarial 1-, 3- and 5-year survivals are 89%, 78% and 52%, respectively. With a median of 18 months after second operation, three patients have no evidence of disease (NED), four are alive with disease (AWD) and three are dead of disease (DOD). In the absence of effective chemotherapy, selected patients with hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal origin should be considered for resection as it offers the only possibility for long-term survival.