Hepatic resection for synchronous liver metastases of gastric cancer

Since 1970, we have treated 125 patients with synchronous liver metastases from gastric cancer. We analyzed 4 of these 125 patients who underwent hepatic resection, and studied the indications for hepatic resection. There were 3 H1 patients and 1 H2 patient. Lateral segmentectomy was performed for 2 patients and partial segmentectomy was performed for 2 patients. Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy followed by surgery was performed for patients, one of whom died of recurrence in the residual liver at 49 months. The other patient has survived without recurrence for 30 months. Two patients without HAI died after 11.3 months and 1.9 months, respectively. The survival time of 3 H1 patients who underwent hepatectomy was 30.2 months, while that of the other H1 patients without hepatectomy was 8.3 months. In conclusion, when local control is obtained during surgery and the liver metastasis is H1 in a patient with synchronous liver metastasis of gastric cancer, aggressive hepatectomy supported by HAI should be performed to improve the prognosis.