The validity of clinical risk score for patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal metastases

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the clinical risk score (CRS) for a selection of patients for surgery.

In the period of January 1996 to June 2007, 169 patients underwent their first surgical and/or local ablative therapy for CRLM. This study assesses five preoperative prognostic criteria which define the CRS (nodal status of the primary tumor, the disease-free interval, the number of hepatic metastases, the preoperative CEA level, and the size of the largest metastasis). In the present study was analyzed the calculated CRS with respect to patient's postoperative survival.

An individual CRS was found to be predictive of survival. CRS stratified into two groups (CRS scores 0-2 and 3-5) were also found to be predictive of survival, with 5-year survival rates of 41% and 13%, respectively. CRS stratified into three groups (CRS scores 0-1; 2-3 and 4-5) were found predictive of survival as well, with 5-year survival rates of 72.7%, 21% and 4.6%, respectively.

Immediate hepatic resection is reasonable in patients with CRS 0 to 1. In patients with CRS 2 to 3, chemotherapy may be required in addition to hepatic resection. In patients with CRS 4 to 5, hepatic resection is probably reasonable only if there is a response to chemotherapy.