[Resection of liver metastases]

The result of liver resection for metastases must be calculated against the natural history without therapy, for which Wagner has found a 5-year-survival rate of only 0 to 3%. From 1970 to 1983 at our surgical unit altogether 80 liver metastases were resected by atypical resection or hemihepatectomy with a primary lethality rate of 28% in the first and 8% in the second period of survey. However, this rate has been further reduced since 1983 by the introduction of the CUSA, intraoperative sonography and the use of segmental liver resection. Since October 1984 altogether 110 liver metastases were resected with a primary lethality of only 5%. Our present 5-year-survival rate for curatively resected liver metastases specifically in colorectal cancer, calculated by the actuarial method, is 32%.