Indication for isolated hyperthermic liver perfusion: a surgeon's view

Isolated hyperthermic liver perfusion is a transitional therapy, i.e. a therapy between evidence based, standard therapy and experimental therapy. It appears to provide distinct benefits in a number of situations but the scientific evidence is still incomplete. In our view the present indications for use of isolated hyperthermic perfusion of the liver are: to gain more knowledge; nonresectable liver metastases without proven extrahepatic growth from: uveal melanoma, colorectal carcinoma, and ovarian cancer; symptoms related to hepatic metastases from endocrine tumors. A multicenter study aimed at gaining more knowledge is recommended.