Results of Surgical Excision of One to 13 Hepatic Metastases in 98 Consecutive Patients

Abstract
• Metastatic carcinoma to the liver is generally considered to be associated with a poor prognosis, with five-year survival of only 20% to 30% after resection of solitary lesions. Ninety-eight consecutive patients underwent the surgical removal of one to 13 metastatic lesions from the liver. A rising carcinoembryonic antigen level was considered an indication for reexploration. All gross tumor was removed in every patient; 66 had more than one metastasis. Survival was unexpectedly high: 91 of 98 were alive at 12 months, 50 (70%) of 71 at 13 to 24 months, 23 (66%) of 36 at 25 to 36 months, 14 (74%) of 19 at 37 to 48 months, six (60%) of ten at 49 to 60 months, four (80%) of five at 61 to 72 months, and two (50%) of four 73 to 84 months after resection of multiple liver metastases. The procedure appears to be a safe and, in some patients, beneficial surgical technique for the removal of multiple hepatic metastases. (Arch Surg 1989;124:46-48)

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