Back to Program | 2010 Program and Abstracts Overview | 2010 Posters

Liver resection has gained wide acceptance in selected patients with colorectal liver metastasis. However the role of hepatectomy for noncolorectal liver metastasis (LM) is less well defined because of the scarcity of published data and the inhomogenity of underlying malignancies. In this study we present our perioperative and survival data of 77 patients undergoing liver resection for noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine LM during the last decade.Methods: Since 1999 77 patients (61% female, median age 61 years) underwent liver resection for noncolorectal nonneuroendocrine LM at our institution. The origin of tumors were classified as gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas (GI; n=18; 23%, consisting of pancreatic, esophageal or gastric primaries) or non-gastrointestinal (non-GI; n=59; 77%, consisting of 12 breast cancers, 9 renal cancers, 6 melanomas, 6 ovarian cancers and 26 other or unknown primaries). Perioperative and outcome data were documented prospectively (hepatic database). Median postoperative follow-up was 1.6 (up to 9.9) years. Survival information was available in 73 patients.Results: Of 77 hepatectomies 33% were wedge resections, 27% segmental resections and 40% normal or extended hemihepatectomies. Mortality was 3/77 (3.9%) and total morbidity 46%. 4 patients (5%) developed liver failure, and 8 (10%) required relaparotomy for complications. Hepatic resection led to free hepatic margins in 72%. Overall 5- year survival (5-SURV) was 44%. Of 9 patients surviving more than 5 years 8 are still alive up to 9.9 years after liver resection. Survival of patients with non-GI LM was significantly better than in patients with GI LM (5-SURV 52% vs 18%; p<0.02). Survival was also better in margin-free patients without extrahepatic disease (5-SURV 57% vs 26% with residual disease; p<0.01). Conclusions: In selected patients with liver metastasis of various noncolorectal nongastrointestinal malignancies complete tumor resection can result in clearly prolonged survival. Patients with LM from noncolorectal gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and/or patients with incomplete tumor removal rarely benefit from resection.