Long-term survival after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases: a single-center study in Iran

BMC Surg. 2024 May 3;24(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s12893-024-02420-4.

Abstract

Background: Surgical resection of colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) has been associated with improved survival in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of liver metastasectomy, also finding independent factors related to survival after liver metastasectomy.

Methods: In a retrospective study, all patients with CRLM who underwent resection of liver metastases between 2012 and 2022 at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran, were enrolled. All patients were actively followed based on clinicopathologic and operative data.

Results: A total of 248 patients with a median follow-up time of 46 months (Range, 12 to 122) were studied. Eighty-six patients (35.0%) underwent major hepatectomy, whereas 160 (65.0%) underwent minor hepatectomy. The median overall survival was 43 months (Range, 0 to 122 months), with estimated 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of 91%, 56%, and 42%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a metastasis size > 6 cm, major hepatectomy, rectum as the primary tumor site, and involved margin (< 1 mm) were independent factors associated with decreased overall survival (OS).

Conclusion: Surgical resection is an effective treatment for patients with CRLM that is associated with relatively favorable survival. A negative margin of 1 mm seems to be sufficient for oncological resection.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Liver metastases; Surgical resection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatectomy* / methods
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Liver Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Male
  • Metastasectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome