Experience with colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver

The predilection of colorectal cancer metastases for the liver is probably the result of several factors, including the blood supply, the "homing" characteristics of the tumor cells, and the state of the liver. Five-year survival rates after hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases range from 20 to 40 per cent, and some other patients obtain palliative benefit. The authors discuss the three presentations of liver metastases, operative techniques, and prognostic factors.