Resectional liver surgery in metastatic liver disease
Lygidakis, N.J.; Spentzouris, N.; Dedemadi, G.
Hepato-Gastroenterology 45(22): 1034-1038
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-6390 PMID: 9756003 Document Number: 489961
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To increase resectability rate and decrease intrahepatic recurrence of metastatic liver disease of patients suffering from secondary liver tumors. Metastatic liver disease remains challenging and life threatening. At the time of diagnosis only 10% of patients are amenable to liver resection and of those 60-70% will develop recurrence in the residual liver 16 to 24 months following liver resection METHODOLOGY: Seventy patients out of a total number of 305 seen between November 1991 and May 1998, underwent combined liver resection followed by adjuvant locoregional targeted immunochemotherapy. Patients were divided in two groups. Group A (n=32) had uni-lobular localization of their disease and group B (n=38) had bi-lobular spread of the disease, but tumor occupied was less than 70% of liver surface. All had hepatic resection followed by adjuvant immunochemotherapy. RESULTS: Group A (n=32) had a 5 year survival of 75% with 8 patients alive more than 6 years and a mean survival for alive and dead patients of 50 months. Group B (n=38) had a mean survival of 40 months with 6 patients alive longer than 5 years. CONCLUSIONS:Liver resection combined with adjuvant immunochemotherapy enhances overall long-term survival in both patients with limited and advanced metastatic liver disease, and is recommended as a promising therapeutical alternative.