Background: In cases of synchronous colorectal hepatic metastases, the primary colorectal cancer maintains a strong influence on the metastases, so the possibility of occult hepatic and extrahepatic metastases must be kept in mind. Our treatment policy has been to reevaluate the metastases at an interval of 3 months after colorectal resection and determine treatment strategy. We examined the validity of observation interval for synchronous hepatic metastases.
Materials and methods: The treatment course was investigated for 36 patients with no extrahepatic lesion remnants at colorectal surgery and a simultaneously resectable liver (H1 group).
Results: In the H1 group, eight patients underwent simultaneous colorectal and hepatic resections, while the treatment course for 28 patients was decided after an interval. Hepatic resection was not indicated in nine of the 28 patients during the interval. New lesions appeared during the interval in seven of 19 interval hepatic resection patients. In 16 (57%) of 28 interval patients, there was a change in the hepatic resection procedure or surgical indications.
Conclusion: Reevaluation after an observation interval allows accurate understanding of the number and location of hepatic metastases and is beneficial in determining candidates for surgery and in selecting treatment plan.