Surgical Management of Colorectal Liver Metastases

Choi, Sae Byeol; Kim, Kyung Sik

Abstract

The optimal management of hepatic metastases in colorectal carcinoma patients has become increasingly complex with the myriad of available treatment options. Because the timing of any therapy has become integral to the success of the treatment, a collaborative approach involving multiple specialties is needed for achieving the best patient outcome. Surgical resection is the most effective therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer isolated to the liver. Liver resection of colorectal metastases is associated with three- and five-year survival rates close to 40~60% and 30~50%, respectively. Because the technique for hepatic resection has improved, patients with multiple, biloba, and huge metastases can undergo resection. Every liver resection should be planned after intraoperative ultrasonography, and an anatomical surgical procedure should be preferred instead of wedge resection. Since some of patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal disease are initially classified as unresectable, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being increasingly employed to downsize colorectal metastasis. The greatest benefit of the preoperative approach is the potential to convert patients with initially unresectable metastatic disease to a resectable state. Although various prognostic risk factors have been identified, there has been no dependable staging or prognostic scoring system for metastatic hepatic tumor. As surgeons become more proficient in the technical aspects of resection, the patient selection criteria as based on the biologic determinants of the outcome are becoming increasingly important. The goal of this review is to provide the optimal management, treatment and follow-up for patients with colorectal metastasis to the liver.