Evaluation of Hepatectomy for Hepatic Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

Kazuo Shirouzu, Hiroharu Isomoto, Yuichi Yamashita, Tatsuhisa Morodomi, Yasumi Araki, Teruo Kakegawa

First Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine

A clinicopathological evaluation of hepatectomy for hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer was performed, and the following results were obtained. (1) In the hepatic resection group, long-term survival was better than in the chemotherapy group. (2) The survival period after hepatic resection differed significantly depending on factors relating to the primary lesion such as lymph node metastasis and histological findings (differentiation, lymphatic permeation, etc). (3) Survival did not vary significantly with factors relating to the metastatic lesion such as methods of hepatic resection, or the time of occurrence, degree and number of hepatic metastases. (4) The incidence of recurrence after hepatic resection was high in the remnant liver and also in the lungs. The following points were suggested by these findings: (1) Although hepatic resection is more effective than chemotherapy, it is necessary to perform the hepatectomy rationally in consideration of the histological features of the primary lesion. (2) An important issue to be studied in the future is how to prevent recurrence after hepatic resection.

Key words
colorectal cancer, liver metastasis, hepatic resection

Reprint requests
Kazuo Shirouzu First Department of Surgeyr, Kurume University School of Medicine
67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, 830 JAPAN

Accepted
November 19, 1990

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