Yamashita et al evaluated patients undergoing curative hepatectomy for liver metastases from a colorectal carcinoma. Early recurrence is associated with poor prognosis. The authors are from National Kyushi Cancer Center and Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic Bomb Survivors Hospital in Japan.
Patient selection: curative resection of liver metastases from a colorectal carcinoma (all evident metastases removed)
Early recurrence was defined as evidence of metastatic liver disease within 1 year of curative hepatectomy.
The only independent predictor of early recurrence was the presence of >= 3 liver metastases.
Additional factors that may contribute:
(1) synchronous liver metastases
(2) major hepatectomy
A patient with >= 3 liver metastases may be a candidate for preoperative chemotherapy and/or adjuvant chemotherapy.
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