[Liver metastases in breast carcinoma. Results of partial liver resection]

Within 11 years we performed 35 liver resections in 34 patients with liver metastases of breast cancer. The median age was 47 years. The median interval between the primary operation and the liver resection was 27.3 months. 59% of the patients had a solitary metastases. A curative (R0) resection was possible in 86%. Operative mortality was 3% (n = 1). Overall 5-year survival was 18.4% (median 27 months). Prognosis was significantly (p < 0.001) better following R0-resection (22%, median 41.5 months) than after R1/2-resection (maximum 20 months, median 5 months). Beside the radicality an unfavorable influence on the prognosis could be demonstrated only for a prior local recurrence of the primary tumor (p < 0.05). If a R0-resection was possible stage of the primary tumor, number and size of the metastases, and extension of the operative procedure were without prognostic significance. We conclude that patients with isolated liver metastases of breast cancer can have a long lasting benefit from liver resection. In individual cases even cure may be possible.