Liver resections of metastases of non-colorectal primary tumors

The records of 30 patients who had hepatic resections for non-colorectal liver metastases between 1985-1994 were analyzed retrospectively. The perioperative morbidity and mortality rates were 7% (2/30) and 3% (1/30). The patient group with curative resection (n = 25) was found to have a 5-year survival rate of 44.6% and a 3-year disease-free survival rate of 19.8%. By univariate analysis, the number of metastases and the amount of perioperative blood replacement were the only factors that affected survival after curative resection. Synchronous vs. metachronous disease was the only factor that showed a significant influence on disease-free survival after curative resection. Although the benefit of liver resection for non-colorectal metastases is limited, surgical therapy can be performed safely and offers some patients a chance of long-time survival.