[Liver resection in 157 patients with colorectal metastases]

The mean life expectancy for patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma is poor. Removal of those tumors leads to an improvement of this situation. In 157 patients with colorectal metastases liver resection was performed. The overall 5-year survival rate was 23% with a median of 34.9 months. Significant prognostic factors for survival were size, and distribution of metastases, percent hepatic replacement by tumor, and radicality of operation. These results emphasize again that in selected patients with colorectal liver metastases resectional therapy is in principle indicated. Especially in the light of lacking therapeutical alternatives this offers presently the only chance for longterm cure or at least significant palliation.