Examination of patient selection and outcome for hepatic resection for metastatic disease

Hepatic resection for metastatic disease is now an accepted therapeutic option in a selected group of patients. A series of 56 patients undergoing hepatic resection at a single institution from 1974 to 1985 are presented. Resection was carried out in 27 women and 29 men who ranged in age from 23 to 87 years (a mean of 56 years). The site of primary disease was: colorectal in 41, adrenal gland in two and other sites in 13. Of the 56 hepatectomies, 21 were done for synchronous secondary disease discovered before or at operation for the primary disease. Metachronous lesions were found in 35 patients, from two months to 17 years (a mean of 34 months) after excision of the primary tumor. Estimated five year survival rates using the Kaplan-Meier method was 25 per cent in the patients with colorectal primaries and 35 per cent in the entire group. No difference was demonstrated between synchronous and metachronous resections. Patients with multiple hepatic lesions did much poorer than those with solitary tumors. Patients with metastatic tumor consisting of one large lesion with surrounding satellite nodule or nodules had an expected survival time resembling that for those with true solitary metastases and were included in that group. No difference in survival time was observed in patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum who had involvement of regional nodes at the time of the primary resection, as compared with patients with negative nodes. Hepatic resection for a secondary malignant growth can be performed safely with a real chance for cure in selected instances. We continue to recommend an aggressive approach to hepatic metastases, especially those of a colorectal origin.