Resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

We studied 141 patients who had resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer, considering all such lesions removed between 1948 and 1982. The study involved extended observations of patients described previously. Also included were 21 patients who had wedge resections of small metastases done since 1976, who, therefore, did not qualify for analysis of major hepatic resections reported recently (1980 and 1983). The overall five-year survival rate was 25%, significantly higher than that of a group of historical controls who had resectable metastases that were not removed. The size and nature of our extended sample allowed identification of some determinants of favorable prognosis: Dukes' stage of the primary lesion, absence of extrahepatic metastases, and being female. Contrary to our earlier observations, this study justified removal of some multiple hepatic metastases.