[Hepatic lesions induced by systemic chemotherapy for digestive cancer]

The anticancerous chemotherapies are often responsible for toxic injury of the nontumoral liver. Two types of histological lesions were recently reported during the treatment of digestive cancers: the sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS); or veno-occlusive disease associated with the use of oxaliplatine, and steatohepatitis associated with the use of irinotecan. The SOS is a cause of increased postoperative morbidity, particularly during major hepatectomy or when more than six cycles of chemotherapy are administered. Steatohepatitis increases the postoperative morbidity and mortality. The new targeted molecules do not seem to modify the postoperative course. Hepatic injury and postoperative complications associated with chemotherapies used in the treatment of digestive cancers are summarized in this review.